Bone Abstracts

Many reports have proposed significant role of vitamin D on immune mediated disease. This study analyzed lymphocyte subsets according to serum 25(OH) vitamin D levels in postmenopausal women to determine the potential effect of vitamin D on immune-mediated disease.

On a prospective observational basis, we enrolled 31 postmenopausal women who underwent health checkup in our hospital. Peripheral blood drawn for the estimation of total T, B cell, NK cell count, proportion of CD3+, CD4+,CD8+, Th1, Th2, Th17 and Treg subsets of T lymphocyte after fasting on the morning. We also measured BMI, estrogen, fasting glucose, hs-CRP, lipid profile, serum 25(OH)D, calcium, phosphate.

The subjects were divided into three groups according to serum vitamin D levels. Proportion of CD4⁺(P=0.024) T cells were significantly decreased in three tertile group compared with one tertile group. Proportion of CD8+(P=0.004) T cells in three tertile group were significantly increased than that of the one tertile group and three tertile group. Also, CD4⁺/CD8⁺T cell ratio in one tertile group was significantly increased than that of the two tertile group and three tertile group. However there was no differences in total T, B, NK cell count, Th1, Th2 cytokine producing T cell population, Th17 and Treg cells according to vitamin D levels.

In this study, serum vitamin D levels in postmenopausal women is associated with changes in the peripheral CD4+, CD8+T cell compartment.