Vitamin D and spondyloarthritis

Area of Science:

• Rheumatology
• Endocrinology
• Immunology

Background:

• Vitamin D deficiency is prevalent in spondyloarthritis (SpA) patients.
• It correlates with increased disease activity and structural damage.
• Vitamin D influences key SpA molecular pathways, including entheseal inflammation and ossification.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the role of vitamin D in spondyloarthritis.
• To explore potential therapeutic strategies targeting the vitamin D pathway in SpA.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional study analysis.
• Experimental study data review.
• Literature review on vitamin D's molecular mechanisms in SpA.

Main Results:

• Vitamin D deficiency is associated with higher SpA activity and structural damage.
• Vitamin D impacts cytokines like IL-23 and sclerostin, relevant to entheseal inflammation and ossification.
• Deficiency may worsen SpA via periodontal and gut inflammation, increasing functional impairment.

Conclusions:

• Vitamin D receptor selective agonists show therapeutic potential for SpA.
• Further randomized controlled trials are necessary to confirm the complex relationship between vitamin D and SpA.