Nonlinear and Sex-Specific Associations of Vitamin D Metabolites with Inflammatory Blood Markers in 125,537 Adults
Our findings reveal distinct, concentration-dependent associations between vitamin D metabolites and leukocyte profiles, with evidence for nonlinear and sex-specific immunological effects. Both low and high levels of 25(OH)D and 1,25(OH)<sub>2</sub>D were linked to increased neutrophil and monocyte counts, suggesting that vitamin D excess, like deficiency, may be linked to low-grade inflammation. These data are hypothesis-generating and suggest that personalized monitoring of vitamin D status may be relevant for future research on immune health, particularly in populations at risk for inflammatory or metabolic disease, but they do not provide a basis for clinical decision-making.
Authors
- Saban Elitok
- Cornelia Doebis
- Bernhard K. Krämer (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1718-2918)
- Berthold Hocher (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8143-0579)
- Xitong Li (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0003-3060-282X)
- Hans‐Dieter Volk (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7743-6668)
- Katrin Huesker
- Yvonne Liu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5688-2108)
- Xin Chen (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4997-1257)
- Jingyun Wang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3248-9747)
- Christoph Reichetzeder (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2219-5529)
- Carl‐Friedrich Hocher
- Anne Schönbunn
Institutions
- Central South University (CN)
- Heidelberg University (DE)
- University Hospital Heidelberg (DE)
- Reproductive & Genetic Hospital CITIC-Xiangya (CN)
- CS Diagnostics (DE)
- University Medical Centre Mannheim (DE)
- Klinikum Ernst von Bergmann (DE)
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin (DE)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Nutrients
- Published
- 2025-11-24
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17233670
- Primary Topic
- Vitamin D Research Studies
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00