Vitamin D3 and immune response

Executive Summary

Skin wounds need vitamin D3 to protect against infection and begin the body's repair process, according to a study published online Feb. 8 in the Journal of Clinical Investigation. Richard L. Gallo, M.D., Ph.D. Division of Dermatology, University of California, San Diego, et al., say "our finding - that multiple, diverse genes controlled by [active vitamin D] are increased after injury to the skin - suggests that the availability of D3 is essential to the wound." Gallo says the researchers' results show for the first time "vitamin D3 signaling is important to microbial recognition and the antimicrobial response during injury." Two studies on vitamin D3 and the reduction in the risk for certain cancers were also released this week...