Vitamin D deficiency is associated with autoimmune lung disease

US scientists at the University of Cincinnati say vitamin D deficiency may be associated with the development and severity of certain autoimmune lung diseases.

The results of the study were published in the journal Chest - January issue of Chest.

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Dr. Brent Kinder, director of the study, said the lack of vitamin D could also affect the development of other autoimmune diseases such as lupus or type 1 diabetes.

In his experiment, Mr. Kinder and his colleagues conducted a study of 118 patients' medical records in data centers of autoimmune pulmonary disease (ILD) centers to test the concentration. serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D - signaling vitamin D levels in the body. Of these, 67 patients suffered from ILD-related diseases, 51 had other causes of pulmonary sclerosis. The scientists then assessed the relationship between these serum concentrations and the patient's conditions.

The results showed that those with ILD-associated connective tissue were more likely to be vitamin D deficient, respectively 52% compared to 20%, and not sufficient vitamin D, at 79% compared to 31%, compared to other forms of ILD.

Dr Kinder said these findings suggest a high incidence of vitamin D deficiency in patients with ILD, especially those with connective tissue disease. Therefore, viatmin D may play a role for the development of ILD in relation to connective tissue disease and worsening lung function of the patient.

Autoimmune disease is a state of disease caused by a combination of autoantibodies that cause inflammation leading to physical and functional damage in cells, tissues, or organs.

The main activity of the immune system is its ability to distinguish "strange" from its own. So after distinguishing the strange and the immune system I have to create a mechanism to tolerate my own antigens, that is, there is no reaction to the body itself, called self-tolerance. Autoimmune disease occurs when the self-tolerance mechanism is affected or loses its function to cause disease.

Some autoimmune diseases are common such as low diseases, digestive liver diseases, blood diseases, endocrine diseases or other organ diseases.