Abstract

Vitamin D supplements have been suggested as being useful in high doses for preventing and treating severe disease associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection (i.e. COVID-19). Vitamin D status has been shown to be low in patients with acute respiratory infections. Unfortunately, it is yet unclear whether those associations are causal. Currently, the mechanisms underlying the effects of vitamin D in the lung are not completely understood. In addition, there is not data that demonstrates that vitamin D or the active form of vitamin D (1,25(OH)2D, 1,25D) is effective for improving outcomes following a viral infection. The effects and timing of supplemental vitamin D will be tested on host resistance to SARS-CoV-2 infection in mice and hamsters. The basic mechanisms by which vitamin D regulates the immune response following a respiratory virus infection are critical for the safe and effective messaging for vitamin D supplementation. Understanding the mechanisms underlying the effects of vitamin D in the lung is needed to provide responsible guidance on whether it is safe and effective to supplement individuals with high amounts of vitamin D to protect from COVID-19 disease.

Public Health Relevance

Understanding the mechanisms underlying the effects of vitamin D in the lung is needed to provide responsible guidance on whether it is safe and effective to supplement individuals with high amounts of vitamin D to protect from COVID-19 disease.

  Funding Agency

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Center for Complementary & Alternative Medicine (NCCAM)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
3R01AT005378-10S1
Application #
10225075
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1)
Program Officer
Wang, Yisong
Project Start
2009-08-01
Project End
2021-05-31
Budget Start
2020-09-17
Budget End
2021-05-31
Support Year
10
Fiscal Year
2020
Total Cost
Indirect Cost

  Institution

Name
Pennsylvania State University
Department
Veterinary Sciences
Type
Earth Sciences/Resources
DUNS #
003403953
City
University Park
State
PA
Country
United States
Zip Code
16802

  Publications

Bora, Stephanie A; Kennett, Mary J; Smith, Philip B et al. (2018) Regulation of vitamin D metabolism following disruption of the microbiota using broad spectrum antibiotics. J Nutr Biochem 56:65-73
Tian, Yuan; Nichols, Robert G; Cai, Jingwei et al. (2018) Vitamin A deficiency in mice alters host and gut microbial metabolism leading to altered energy homeostasis. J Nutr Biochem 54:28-34
Bora, Stephanie A; Kennett, Mary J; Smith, Philip B et al. (2018) The Gut Microbiota Regulates Endocrine Vitamin D Metabolism through Fibroblast Growth Factor 23. Front Immunol 9:408
James, Jamaal; Weaver, Veronika; Cantorna, Margherita T (2017) Control of Circulating IgE by the Vitamin D Receptor In Vivo Involves B Cell Intrinsic and Extrinsic Mechanisms. J Immunol 198:1164-1171
Bora, Stephanie; Cantorna, Margherita T (2017) The role of UVR and vitamin D on T cells and inflammatory bowel disease. Photochem Photobiol Sci 16:347-353
Chen, J; Waddell, A; Lin, Y-D et al. (2015) Dysbiosis caused by vitamin D receptor deficiency confers colonization resistance to Citrobacter rodentium through modulation of innate lymphoid cells. Mucosal Immunol 8:618-26
Cantorna, Margherita T; Snyder, Lindsay; Lin, Yang-Ding et al. (2015) Vitamin D and 1,25(OH)2D regulation of T cells. Nutrients 7:3011-21
Waddell, Amanda; Zhao, Jun; Cantorna, Margherita T (2015) NKT cells can help mediate the protective effects of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis in mice. Int Immunol 27:237-44
McDaniel, Kaitlin L; Restori, Katherine H; Dodds, Jeffery W et al. (2015) Vitamin A-Deficient Hosts Become Nonsymptomatic Reservoirs of Escherichia coli-Like Enteric Infections. Infect Immun 83:2984-91
Ooi, Jot Hui; Waddell, Amanda; Lin, Yang-Ding et al. (2014) Dominant effects of the diet on the microbiome and the local and systemic immune response in mice. PLoS One 9:e86366

Showing the most recent 10 out of 33 publications