Solar radiation and vitamin D: Mitigating environmental factors in autoimmune disease

This paper looks at the environmental role of vitamin d and solar radiation as risk reduction factors in autoimmune disease. five diseases are considered: multiple sclerosis,type 1 diabetes,rheumatoid arthritis,autoimmune disease of the thyroid,and inflammatory bowel disease. clinical relevant studies and factors that may indicate evidence that autoimmune disease is a vitamin d-sensitive disease are presented. studies that have resulted in prevention or amelioration of some autoimmune disease are discussed. an example of the utility of supplementing vitamin d in an unusual autoimmune disease,idiopathic thrombocytic purpura,is presented. copyright 2012 gerry k. schwalfenberg.