Low levels of vitamin D are a health problem for a very large segment of the population, especially in n older adults (over 70 years). One of the causes is the low exposure to sunlight that is the main source of its production, in fact the amount of vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) and vitamin D2 (ergocalciferol) produced depends for 80-90% from ultraviolet radiation, and only for 10-20% comes from food. D3 and D2 are responsible for the serum concentration of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD), the main form of storage and circulation of vitamin D.

The importance of vitamin D in calcium absorption and metabolism for bone health is well known. Further studies have shown that low concentrations of 25OHD can promote the pathogenesis of type 1 diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, cancer, sarcopenia and other diseases. Some studies have shown that high concentrations of 25OHD can protect against cardiovascular disease.

Recent studies have shown the association between low levels of vitamin D and increased levels of inflammatory markers.

In a new study, 25OHD serum levels were associated with three inflammatory markers, namely C-reactive protein (CRP), fibrinogen and white blood cell counts in 5,870 elderly English adults.

The results confirmed a potential anti-inflammatory role for vitamin D in the elderly.

de Oliveira, Cesar, et al. “Vitamin D and inflammatory markers: cross-sectional analyses using data from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA).” Journal of Nutritional Science 6 (2017).