Vitamin D as a Nutri-Epigenetic Factor in Autoimmunity—A Review of Current Research and Reports on Vitamin D Deficiency in Autoimmune Diseases

Abstract

Epigenetics is a series of alterations regulating gene expression without disrupting the DNA sequence of bases. These regulatory mechanisms can result in embryogenesis, cellular differentiation, X-chromosome inactivation, and DNA-protein interactions. The main epigenetic mechanisms considered to play a major role in both health and disease are DNA methylation, histone modifications, and profiling of non-coding RNA. When the fragile balance between these simultaneously occurring phenomena is disrupted, the risk of pathology increases. Thus, the factors that determine proper epigenetic modeling are defined and those with disruptive influence are sought. Several such factors with proven negative effects have already been described. Diet and nutritional substances have recently been one of the most interesting targets of exploration for epigenetic modeling in disease states, including autoimmunity. The preventive role of proper nutrition and maintaining sufficient vitamin D concentration in maternal blood during pregnancy, as well as in the early years of life, is emphasized. Opportunities are also being investigated for affecting the course of the disease by exploring nutriepigenetics. The authors aim to review the literature presenting vitamin D as one of the important nutrients potentially modeling the course of disease in selected autoimmune disorders.

Guidelines for Preventing and Treating Vitamin D Deficiency: A 2023 Update in Poland

“…While results for individual autoimmune diseases were not significant due to low numbers of cases, the ones with reduced incidence were psoriasis, polymyalgia rheumatic disease, and rheumatoid arthritis. A recent review discussed the mechanisms whereby vitamin D reduces risk of autoimmune diseases [ 67 ]. The review also emphasized the preventive role of proper nutrition and maintaining sufficient vitamin D concentration in maternal blood during pregnancy, as well as in the early years of life.…”

Vitamin D Receptor Gene polymorphisms and Genetic susceptibility to Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis

“…Both genetic predispositions as well as external triggers cause the disease to manifest the autoimmune diseases. Among external factors, low serum Vit-D levels have not only been shown to predict the course of autoimmune disease, but also the progression of existing autoimmune diseases (14). Vit-D supplementation seems bene cial in case of autoimmune thyroid disorders.…”

Evidence That Increasing Serum 25(OH)D Concentrations to 30 ng/mL in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates Could Greatly Improve Health Outcomes

“…Another review has discussed the role of epigenetics (a series of gene regulatory effects that do not disrupt genetic DNA sequences) in the etiology of autoimmune disease [ 190 ]. The main epigenetic mechanisms considered to play a major role in both health and disease are DNA methylation, histone modifications, and altered profiling of non-coding RNAs.…”

“…The main epigenetic mechanisms considered to play a major role in both health and disease are DNA methylation, histone modifications, and altered profiling of non-coding RNAs. When the fragile balance between these simultaneously occurring phenomena is disrupted, the risk of pathology increases; those authors aimed to review the literature suggesting that vitamin D is one of the more important nutrients potentially capable of modulating the course of disease in various autoimmune disorders [ 190 ]. Crohn’s disease, for example, may be a condition where adequate provision of vitamin D can reduce the risk of relapse [ 191 ].…”