Gut-vitamin D interplay: key to mitigating immunosenescence and promoting healthy ageing

Abstract

Background: Immunosenescence is the loss and change of immunological organs, as well as innate and adaptive immune dysfunction with ageing, which can lead to increased sensitivity to infections, age-related diseases, and cancer. Emerging evidence highlights the role of gut-vitamin D axis in the regulation of immune ageing, influencing chronic inflammation and systemic health. This review aims to explore the interplay between the gut microbiota and vitamin D in mitigating immunosenescence and preventing against chronic inflammation and age-related diseases.

Main text: Gut microbiota dysbiosis and vitamin D insufficiency accelerate immunosenescence and risk of chronic diseases. Literature data reveal that vitamin D modulates gut microbiota diversity and composition, enhances immune resilience, and reduce systemic inflammation. Conversely, gut microbiota influences vitamin D metabolism to promote the synthesis of active vitamin D metabolites with implications for immune health.

Conclusions: These findings underscore the potential of targeting gut-vitamin D axis to modulate immune responses, delay the immune ageing, and mitigate age-related diseases. Further research is needed to integrate vitamin D supplementation and microbiome modulation into strategies aimed at promoting healthy ageing.

Keywords: Gut microbiota; Healthy ageing; Immune ageing; Immunosenescence; Vitamin D.