Background. The role of vitamin D in the body's ability to fight influenza and URI's may be dependent on regulation of specific cytokines that participate in the host inflammatory response. The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that vitamin D can influence intracellular signaling to regulate the production of cytokines. Subjects and Methods. This study was a 3-month prospective placebo-controlled trial of vitamin D3 supplementation in ambulatory adults [Li-Ng et al., 2009]. 162 volunteers were randomized to receive either 50 μg/d (2000 IU) of vitamin D3 or matching placebo. 25(OH)D and the levels of 10 different cytokines (IL-2, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, 13, GM-CSF, IFN-γ, TNF-α) were measured in the serum of participants at baseline and the final visit. There were 6 drop-outs from the active vitamin D group and 8 from the placebo group. Results. In the active vitamin D group, we found a significant median percent decline in levels of GM-CSF (−62.9%, P < .0001), IFN-γ (−38.9%, P < .0001), IL-4 (−50.8%, P = .001), IL-8 (−48.4%, P < .0001), and IL-10 (−70.4%, P < .0001). In the placebo group, there were significant declines for GM-CSF (−53.2%, P = .0007) and IFN-γ (−34.4%, P = .0011). For each cytokine, there was no significant difference in the rate of decline between the two groups. 25(OH)D levels increased in the active vitamin D group from a mean of 64.3 ± 25.4 nmol/L to 88.5 ± 23.2 nmol/L. Conclusions. The present study did not show that vitamin D3 supplementation changed circulating cytokine levels among healthy adults.

Increased habitual calcium intake lowered markers of bone turnover. Acute ingestion of a calcium load lowered PTH and bone turnover markers. Additional intake of 100 microg/d vitamin D(3) did not lower PTH or markers of bone turnover.

rienced increases in CES-D scores of 1.9 (P ϭ 0.01) and 1.1 (P ϭ 0.20) points higher at 3-and 6-yr follow-up. Men with low Vit-D tended to have higher risk of developing depressed mood (hazard ratio ϭ 1.6; 95% confidence interval ϭ 0.9 -2.8; P ϭ 0.1). Conclusion: Our findings suggest that hypovitaminosis D is a risk factor for the development of depressive symptoms in older persons. The strength of the prospective association is higher in women than in men. Understanding the potential causal pathway between Vit-D deficiency and depression requires further research. ABSTRACT Context: Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) haploinsufficiency is associated with hyperphagia and obesity in both animals and humans. BDNF appears to function downstream of the leptin-melanocortin signaling pathway to control energy balance. The potential role of BDNF in the etiology of the severe hyperphagia associated with PWS has not been previously explored. Objective: The aim was to compare BDNF concentrations in subjects with PWS and obese controls (OC) and lean controls (LC). Design and Setting: We conducted a cross-sectional study at an outpatient clinical research center. Participants: We studied 13 subjects with PWS [five males and eight females; mean Ϯ SD: age, 11.0 Ϯ 4.1 yr; body mass index (BMI)-Z, 2.05 Ϯ 0.78], 13 OC (eight females, five males; age, 12.3 Ϯ 2.7 yr; BMI-Z, 2.18 Ϯ 0.61), and 13 LC (six females, seven males; age, 12.4 Ϯ 2.6 yr; BMI-Z, Ϫ0.57 Ϯ 0.73). Main Outcome Measure: BDNF was measured in serum and plasma by ELISA. Analysis of covariance adjusted for age, sex, and BMI-Z. Results: All groups were comparable for age (P ϭ 0.50) and sex distribution (P ϭ 0.49). BMI-Z was comparable between PWS and OC (P ϭ 0.89) and lower in LC (P Ͻ 0.001). Adjusted serum BDNF was comparable (P ϭ 0.35) in OC (mean Ϯ SEM: 13.5 Ϯ 1.2 ng/ml) and LC (19.2 Ϯ 1.3 ng/ml), but lower in PWS (8.3 Ϯ 1.2 ng/ml; P ϭ 0.01 vs. OC; P ϭ 0.03 vs. LC). Adjusted plasma BDNF in PWS (217 Ϯ 130 pg/ml) was lower than OC (422 Ϯ 126 pg/ml; P ϭ 0.02), but statistically comparable with LC (540 Ϯ 143 pg/ml; P ϭ 0.10). Conclusions: Lower BDNF in PWS suggests insufficient central BDNF production because BDNF in peripheral circulation is believed to reflect cerebral BDNF output. Decreased BDNF may be a potential cause for the disordered satiety and morbid obesity associated with PWS. Further studies are needed to confirm this preliminary pilot study in a larger cohort of patients with PWS. Objective: Our objective was to examine the influence of calcium intake and vitamin D exposure separately and their interaction on biomarkers of calcium sufficiency. Design: Healthy men and women, age 20 -80 yr, were randomly allocated to four groups: 1) double placebo, 2) calcium (1200 mg daily) plus placebo, 3) vitamin D 3 (100 g) plus placebo, and 4) vitamin D 3 and calcium. Fasting serum and urine as well as serum and urine 2 h after a calcium load (600 mg of calcium carbonate) were obtained at baseline and 3 months. Results: Ninety-nine participants were randomized; 78 ...

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