Solar Radiation and Vitamin D: Mitigating Environmental Factors in Autoimmune Disease

Journal of Environmental and Public Health, Volume 2012 (2012), Article ID 619381, 9 pages, Review Article
Gerry K. Schwalfenberg
Department of Family Medicine, University of Alberta, Suite No. 301, 9509-156 Street, Edmonton, AB, Canada T6G 2M7
Received 3 July 2011; Revised 29 November 2011; Accepted 13 December 2011

This paper looks at the environmental role of vitamin D and solar radiation as risk reduction factors in autoimmune disease. Five diseases are considered: multiple sclerosis, type 1 diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, autoimmune disease of the thyroid, and inflammatory bowel disease. Clinical relevant studies and factors that may indicate evidence that autoimmune disease is a vitamin D-sensitive disease are presented. Studies that have resulted in prevention or amelioration of some autoimmune disease are discussed. An example of the utility of supplementing vitamin D in an unusual autoimmune disease, idiopathic thrombocytic purpura, is presented.

Sections of the paper:   Download the PDF from Vitamin D Life

1. Introduction
2. A Brief Overview of Vitamin D and Its Potential Role in Autoimmune Disease
3. Multiple Sclerosis
4. Type 1 Diabetes
5. Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)
6. Autoimmune Disease of the Thyroid
7. Inflammatory Bowel Disease
8. A Case History and Discussion of the Benefit of Vitamin D in Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura in an Adult

Table3: Autoimmunity and factors that relate to vitamin D-sensitive diseases.

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See also Vitamin D Life

• Many vitamin D articles and videos by Schwalfenberg in Canada
• All items in Autoimmune 164 items