The Relationship Between Air Pollution and Vitamin D Deficiency: A Systematic Review
CHEN, Billy
Category: STEM
Abstract – Vitamin D deficiency (VDD) and air pollution each pose as pressing global medical issues; however, there is growing evidence that air pollution and VDD can exacerbate the issues associated with one another. Air pollutants can potentially reduce ground UVB radiation, which is vital to vitamin D production, while VDD can exacerbate respiratory and inflammatory issues that arise from air pollution exposure. A systematic review was conducted to identify, summarize, and analyze how exposure to various air pollutants, like PM2.5, impacts vitamin D levels in humans and how VDD impacts air pollution-induced problems in humans. Through this review, it was established that: air pollution decreases vitamin D levels in humans; air pollutants decrease ground UVB radiation and by extension vitamin D production; VDD exacerbates various issues that arise due to air pollution exposure, like inflammatory and respiratory ailments. Future research must be done to further elucidate the relationship between VDD and air pollution and action must be taken to promote awareness of these problems in order to contain them.