Vitamin D Status Impacts Genital Mucosal Immunity and Markers of HIV-1 Susceptibility in Women

Sharon M. Anderson, Andrea R. Thurman, Neelima Chandra, Suzanne S. Jackson, Susana Asin, Christiane Rollenhagen, Mimi Ghosh, Jason Daniels, Nikolas C. Vann, Meredith R. Clark, Gustavo F. Doncel
2020 Nutrients  
While vitamin D insufficiency is known to impact a multitude of health outcomes, including HIV-1, little is known about the role of vitamin D-mediated immune regulation in the female reproductive tract (FRT). We performed a pilot clinical study of 20 women with circulating 25(OH)D levels <62.5 nmol/L. Participants were randomized into either weekly or daily high-dose oral vitamin D supplementation groups. In addition to serum vitamin D levels, genital mucosal endpoints, including soluble
more » ... rs, immune cell populations, gene expression, and ex vivo HIV-1 infection, were assessed. While systemic vitamin D levels showed a significant increase following supplementation, these changes translated into modest effects on the cervicovaginal factors studied. Paradoxically, post-supplementation vitamin D levels were decreased in cervicovaginal fluids. Given the strong correlation between vitamin D status and HIV-1 infection and the widespread nature of vitamin D deficiency, further understanding of the role of vitamin D immunoregulation in the female reproductive tract is important.
doi:10.3390/nu12103176 pmid:33080839 fatcat:qlyp3xyszfaq3kjcksxcfclou4