Latitude, Sunlight, Vitamin D, and Childhood Food Allergy/Anaphylaxis
Date
2012
Authors
Mullins, Raymond
Camargo, Carlos A
Journal Title
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Volume Title
Publisher
Current Science Inc
Abstract
Vitamin D is widely known for its role in bone metabolism, but this sterol hormone also has important immunomodulatory properties. Vitamin D is produced by the conversion of D3 in the skin following UVB exposure, or after ingestion of D2 or D3. At the extremes of latitude, there is insufficient UVB intensity in the autumn and winter months for adequate synthesis of vitamin D to occur. Growing evidence implicates vitamin D deficiency in early life in the pathogenesis of nonskeletal disorders (e. g., type 1 diabetes and multiple sclerosis) and, more recently, atopic disorders. Several studies have reported higher rates of food allergy/anaphylaxis or proxy measures at higher absolute latitudes. Although causality remains to be determined, these studies suggest a possible role for sunlight and/or vitamin D in the pathogenesis of food allergy/anaphylaxis.
Description
Keywords
Keywords: vitamin D; anaphylaxis; atopy; autumn; food allergy; geography; human; insulin dependent diabetes mellitus; latitude; multiple sclerosis; pathogenesis; peanut allergy; review; risk factor; seasonal variation; sunlight; ultraviolet B radiation; vitamin D d Anaphylaxis; Children; Food allergy; Latitude; Pathogenesis; Sunlight; Vitamin D
Citation
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Source
Current allergy and Asthma Reports
Type
Journal article
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2037-12-31