VITAMIN D AS A HORMONE: IT’S ROLE IN IMMUNE MODULATION AND PREVALENCE OF AUTOIMMUNE DISEASES
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Keywords
Vitamin D, Hormone, Immune modulation, Autoimmune diseases, Prevalence, Pakistan
Abstract
Background: To determine the prevalence of Vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency in community- and hospital-based populations, and to assess its association with autoimmune diseases.
Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at Gomal Medical College and its affiliated hospital, Dera Ismail Khan, from January 2023 to January 2024. A total of 71 adult participants were enrolled from both community and hospital settings. Demographic data, clinical history, and lifestyle factors were collected. Serum 25-hydroxy Vitamin D [25(OH)D] was measured and categorized as deficient (<20 ng/mL), insufficient (20–29 ng/mL), or sufficient (≥30 ng/mL). Autoimmune diseases were identified on clinical and laboratory grounds. Statistical analysis was performed using chi-square test, t-test, and logistic regression with a significance level set at p<0.05.
Results: Vitamin D deficiency was observed in 63.4% of participants, insufficiency in 23.9%, and sufficiency in only 12.7%. Autoimmune diseases were significantly more frequent among Vitamin D–deficient individuals (40.0%) compared with those with insufficient (23.5%) or sufficient (22.2%) levels (p=0.02). Deficient patients also demonstrated higher disease activity, more frequent flares, and poorer quality-of-life scores.
Conclusion: Vitamin D deficiency is widespread in both community and hospital populations and is strongly associated with autoimmune disease prevalence and severity. These findings highlight the importance of routine screening and timely correction of Vitamin D deficiency to reduce the burden of autoimmune disorders.
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Mariam Aurangzeb
Lecturer, Department of Pharmacology, Woman Dental College, Abbottabad, Pakistan
Muhammad Imran Ullah
Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine, Gomal Medical College - MTI, Dera Ismail Khan, Pakistan
Fiza Iqbal
Senior Lecturer, Department of Physiology, Swat Medical College, Swat, Pakistan
Amena Arif
Assistant Professor, Department of Biochemistry, Federal Medical College, Islamabad, Pakistan
Fazal Rabbi
Retired from Health Department as PMO (Principal Medical officer)
Juneda Sarfraz
Assistant Professor, Department of Public Health, Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Medical University, Islamabad, Pakistan