LAUSR

Low vitamin D levels have been associated with infectious disease such as tuberculosis and autoimmune disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis. The expression of the vitamin D-receptor on cells of the innate and adaptive immune system implicates a role for vitamin D in immune function. Interleukin-6 (IL-6), an immune function marker, is an inflammatory cytokine whose production by human monocytes is inhibited by vitamin D in vitro. The present study aimed to identify whether there are any changes in IL-6 concentrations during the winter months and the effect of vitamin D3 supplementation on IL-6 in South Asian and Caucasian women living in the UK. A total of 70 subjects (South Asian n = 29, Caucasian n = 41) were selected from the D2-D3 study based on the greatest 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) changes across the 12 week winter intervention period. Plasma samples were taken at baseline, 6 and 12 weeks but only those from visit 1 (baseline) and visit 2 (6 weeks) were analysed in this study. IL-6 was quantified using highsensitivity enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (R&D Systems, Minneapolis, MN, USA) and all standards and samples were plated in duplicate. Serum 25OHD levels had previously been determined by HPLC-MS/MS and were therefore available for use in this study. The D2-D3 study had ethical approval from both the South-East Coast (Surrey) NHS Research Ethics Committee (NHS REC No. 11/LO/0708) and the University of Surrey Ethics Committee (Fast-Track EC/2011/97/FHMS). In the placebo group, IL-6 concentration did not change significantly from visit 1 to visit 2 for either the South Asian or Caucasian women. Supplementation with vitamin D3 did not significantly affect IL-6 concentration from visit 1 to visit 2 in either the South Asian or Caucasian women (Table 1). 25OHD levels decreased significantly in the South Asian and Caucasian women taking the placebo and increased significantly in the women taking vitamin D3 (Table 2).