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Vitamin D supplementation reduced SLE patients’ disease activity
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Vitamin D3 use displayed a significant inverse correlation with disease activity levels in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus, according to recent study results.
Researchers in India studied 129 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE; mean age, 28.14 years; 97% women), including 79 treatment-naive patients and 50 others receiving oral calcium and vitamin D3 supplementation. Mean disease duration was 2.9 years. One hundred healthy participants (mean age, 31.18 years; 74% women) were included as controls.
The researchers collected 5 mL blood in ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid from each participant. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to quantify plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 and interferon-alpha (IFN-a) levels. Quantitative real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction was used to measure gene expression level of IFN-a.
SLE disease activity index (SLEDAI) scores (P<.0001; r=–0.42), anti-dsDNA (P<.0001; r=–0.39), plasma IFN-a (P<.0001; r=–0.43) and IFN-a gene expression levels (P=.0009; r=–0.45) were inversely correlated with plasma 25-OH vitamin D3.
“Further, plasma levels of IFN-a positively correlated with gene expression of IFN-a (P<.0001; r=0.84),” the researchers reported.
Higher levels of IFN-a were displayed by treatment-naive SLE patients compared with treated patients and controls (P<.001, both).
“Vitamin D deficiency is prevalent among healthy Indians, as well as among SLE patients,” the researchers concluded. “The significant inverse correlation of vitamin D3 with SLEDAI scores, anti-ds DNA and IFN-a highlights its immune-modulatory role contributing to disease outcome. Although the present study indicates a necessity for vitamin D3 supplementation in the management of SLE patients, larger randomized controlled trials would be necessary to define the daily requirement and optimum blood levels of vitamin D3 that are effective in influencing disease outcome.”
Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.
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