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The effect of vitamin D3 supplementation on Interleukin-6 concentrations in healthy South Asian and Caucasian women: preliminary analysis of the D2-D3 study

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 October 2018

A.L. Salter
Affiliation:
School of Biosciences and Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford, Surrey, UK, GU2 7XH.
O.A. Akinyemi
Affiliation:
School of Biosciences and Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford, Surrey, UK, GU2 7XH.
J. Elliott
Affiliation:
School of Biosciences and Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford, Surrey, UK, GU2 7XH.
J. Sier
Affiliation:
School of Biosciences and Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford, Surrey, UK, GU2 7XH.
J. Hunt
Affiliation:
School of Biosciences and Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford, Surrey, UK, GU2 7XH.
S.A. Lanham-New
Affiliation:
School of Biosciences and Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford, Surrey, UK, GU2 7XH.
D.J. Blackbourn
Affiliation:
School of Biosciences and Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford, Surrey, UK, GU2 7XH.
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Abstract

Type
Abstract
Copyright
Copyright © The Authors 2018 

Low vitamin D levels have been associated with infectious disease such as tuberculosis(Reference Huang, Wang and Liu1) and autoimmune disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis(Reference Kostoglou-Athanassiou, Athanassiu and Lyraki2). The expression of the vitamin D-receptor on cells of the innate and adaptive immune system implicates a role for vitamin D in immune function. Interleukin-6 (IL-6), an immune function marker, is an inflammatory cytokine whose production by human monocytes is inhibited by vitamin D in vitro(Reference Zhang, Leung and Richers3). The present study aimed to identify whether there are any changes in IL-6 concentrations during the winter months and the effect of vitamin D3 supplementation on IL-6 in South Asian and Caucasian women living in the UK.

A total of 70 subjects (South Asian n = 29, Caucasian n = 41) were selected from the D2-D3 study(Reference Tripkovic, Wilson and Hart4) based on the greatest 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) changes across the 12 week winter intervention period. Plasma samples were taken at baseline, 6 and 12 weeks but only those from visit 1 (baseline) and visit 2 (6 weeks) were analysed in this study. IL-6 was quantified using high-sensitivity enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (R&D Systems, Minneapolis, MN, USA) and all standards and samples were plated in duplicate. Serum 25OHD levels had previously been determined by HPLC-MS/MS and were therefore available for use in this study. The D2-D3 study had ethical approval from both the South-East Coast (Surrey) NHS Research Ethics Committee (NHS REC No. 11/LO/0708) and the University of Surrey Ethics Committee (Fast-Track EC/2011/97/FHMS).

In the placebo group, IL-6 concentration did not change significantly from visit 1 to visit 2 for either the South Asian or Caucasian women. Supplementation with vitamin D3 did not significantly affect IL-6 concentration from visit 1 to visit 2 in either the South Asian or Caucasian women (Table 1). 25OHD levels decreased significantly in the South Asian and Caucasian women taking the placebo and increased significantly in the women taking vitamin D3 (Table 2).

Table 1. Interleukin-6 (IL-6) concentrations at visit 1 (V1) and visit 2 (V2).

IQR = Interquartile range, SA = South Asian, CA = Caucasian.

Table 2. 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) concentrations at visit 1 (V1) and visit 2 (V2).

*P < 0·05 Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test, IQR = Interquartile range, SA = South Asian, CA = Caucasian.

The present study shows no significant change in IL-6 levels across the winter and no effect of vitamin D3 supplementation on IL-6 levels despite the significant change in vitamin D status of women in the D2-D3 study(Reference Tripkovic, Wilson and Hart4). The present study supports a meta-analysis which found that vitamin D supplementation had no significant effect on IL-6 concentrations(Reference Jamka, Woźniewicz and Walkowiak5) as well as a 12 week study that showed no effect of calcium/vitamin D3 treatment on IL-6 concentrations(Reference Gannagé-Yared, Azoury and Mansour6). Although these findings do not support a beneficial role for vitamin D with respect to IL-6 concentrations, new data in our labs with regard to IL-8 may warrant further study(Reference Akinyemi7).

References

1.Huang, S, Wang, X, Liu, Z et al. (2017) Drug Des Devel Ther 11, 91102.Google Scholar
2.Kostoglou-Athanassiou, I, Athanassiu, P, Lyraki, A et al. (2012) Ther Adv Endocrinol Metab 3(6), 181187.Google Scholar
3.Zhang, Y, Leung, DYM, Richers, BN et al. (2012) J Immunol 188(5), 21272135.Google Scholar
4.Tripkovic, L, Wilson, LR, Hart, K et al. (2017) Am J Clin Nutr 106(2), 481490.Google Scholar
5.Jamka, M, Woźniewicz, M, Walkowiak, J et al. (2016) Eur J Nutr 55(6), 21632176.Google Scholar
6.Gannagé-Yared, MH, Azoury, M, Mansour, I et al. (2003) J Endocrinol Invest 26(8), 748753.Google Scholar
7.Akinyemi, OA et al. (2017).Google Scholar
Figure 0

Table 1. Interleukin-6 (IL-6) concentrations at visit 1 (V1) and visit 2 (V2).

Figure 1

Table 2. 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) concentrations at visit 1 (V1) and visit 2 (V2).