The Vitamin D connection to pediatric infections and immune function

Over the past 20 years, there has been a resurgence of vitamin D deficiency and relapse in nutrition rockets around the world, including in the United States. Inadequate serum vitamin D intake is also associated with complications of other health problems, including tuberculosis, cancer (prostate, breast, and colon), multiple sclerosis, and diabetes. These results support the notion of vitamin D, which has important pelotropic functions outside of calcium homeostasis and bone metabolism. In children, an association of respiratory nutrient reserves has long been recognized. Recent epidemiological studies clearly show a link between vitamin D deficiency and an increased incidence of respiratory infections. Further research has also shown the contribution of vitamin D to the host immune response to infection. However, the mechanism by which vitamin D levels play an important role in pediatric infections and immune function remains to be determined. This knowledge is particularly relevant and timely, as newborns and infants are more likely to be viral than bacterial infections due to vitamin D deficiency. The relationship between vitamin D, infection and immune function in the pediatric population indicates possible interventions and the potential role of vitamin D supplementation in appropriate treatment.