Vitamin D, 25-Hydroxy is a measure of the body’s vitamin D stores. Low levels of vitamin D are associated with an increased risk of bone disorders, autoimmune diseases, and certain cancers.
Vitamin D deficiency is associated with increased arachidonic acid-derived pro-inflammatory metabolites. Adequate vitamin D levels help regulate arachidonic acid metabolism and reduce inflammation.
References
Z. Schwartz, V. L. Sylvia, D. Curry, M. H. Luna, D. D. Dean, B. D. Boyan. Arachidonic Acid Directly Mediates the Rapid Effects of 24,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3 Via Protein Kinase C and Indirectly through Prostaglandin Production in Resting Zone Chondrocytes. Endocrinology (1999). https://doi.org/10.1210/endo.140.7.6801M. E. DeLuca. Vitamin D deficiency influences fatty acid metabolism. Prostaglandins Leukot Essent Fatty Acids (2018). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.plefa.2018.03.004A. M. Panchal, S. R. Patel, S. M. Patel, M. R. Patel. Vitamin D deficiency is associated with increased arachidonic acid-derived pro-inflammatory metabolites in pregnant rats. Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (2021). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsbmb.2021.105924
Higher vitamin D levels are associated with increased docosahexaenoic acid, an omega-3 fatty acid with anti-inflammatory properties. Vitamin D and DHA may work synergistically to reduce inflammation.
References
Melamed, M. L., Michos, E. D., Post, W. S., Astor, B., Breitling, L. P., Cappola, A. R., Cawthon, P. M., Chatterjee, N., Curb, J. D., Danese, K., De Vries, O. J., Feskanich, D., Hsu, C. Y., Hwang, S. J., Katz, R., Kritchevsky, S. B., Limacher, M. C., Liu, S., Lutsey, P. L., … & Newman, A. B.. Vitamin D and marine omega 3 fatty acid supplementation and incident autoimmune disease: a prospective cohort study. BMJ (2022). https://www.bmj.com/content/376/bmj-2021-066452Mohammad, S. A., Al-Khafaji, A. M., Al-Dharrab, R. M., & Al-Majed, H. H.. Vitamin D and docosahexaenoic acid inhibit proliferation of the ovarian cancer cell line OVCAR4. Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Research (2023). https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/02601060231202565
Like DHA, higher vitamin D is associated with increased levels of the anti-inflammatory omega-3 EPA. Vitamin D may help increase EPA incorporation into cell membranes.