Association between hypovitaminosis D and systemic sclerosis: True or fake?

• The association between clinical features and low hormone levels is controversial.
• Promoting the onset of SSc depends on the interaction between genetics, environment and infections.
• The relation between low Vitamin D and SSc remains unclear.

BackgroundVitamin D insufficiency/deficiency is considered a major factor triggering and enhancing several autoimmune disorders; hypovitaminosis D has been reported to be common in Systemic Sclerosis (SSc). Previous studies assessing vitamin D insufficiency/deficiency in SSc have been reviewed, and the relation with pathogenesis and clinical features has been examined.ContentEligibility criteria were: reporting measurement of Vitamin D serum levels in all participants and evaluating adult onset-SSc individuals as patients group. Results: The association between clinical features and low hormone levels is controversial. Manifold data have shown vitamin D insufficiency/deficiency to have a potential role in the pathogenesis of disease, providing inconclusive findings.SummaryPromoting the onset of SSc depends on the interaction between genetics, environment and infections. It remains a sound question whether Vitamin D insufficiency/deficiency is an environment-linked immunological heckler, making infectious agents taking root.