Embracing cancer immunotherapy with vital micronutrients

Table 1 Selected trials on the effect of zinc and vitamin D on autoimmune related disorders

No.	Autoimmune disorder	Agent	Dose	Period	Trial type	Benefit	Year
1	MS	Cholecalciferol	50000 IU/wk	12 mo	R, C, DB	Decreased incidence rate of demyelination plaques, reduced progression risk	2013[78]
2	RA	ZnSO4	220 mg/3×/d	12 wk + 12 wk	C then O	Decreased joint swelling, stiffness, walking time	1976[79]
3	T1DM	ZnSO4 + vit A	10 mg/d + vit A 25000 IU	12 wk	R, C, DB	Increased serum apo A1; decreased apo B/Apo A1 ratio	2010[80]
4	T1DM (RO)	Alpha-calcidol	10 IU/1-2×/d	6 mo	R, C, B (prtps)	FCP higher; lower requirement of insulin	2013[81]
5	T1DM (RO)	Cholecalciferol	2000 IU/d	18 mo	R, C, DB	Protective immunologic effect; slow decline of residual β-cell function (serum FCP and SCP levels)	2012[82]
6	T1DM (RO)	Cholecalciferol	70 IU/kg/d	12 mo	R, C, DB	Improved the suppressive capacity of Tregs	2015[83]
7	PS	Zinc pyrithione topical 0.25% in an emollient base	2×/d	3 mo	R, C, DB	Decreased plaques/PASI score	2011[84]
8	SLE	Vit D	50000 IU/wk	24 wk	R, C, DB	Decreased disease activity parameters; reduced fatigue	2016[85]

Apo: Apoprotein; B: Blind; C: Controlled; DB: Double blind; FCP: Fasting C-peptide; MS: Multiple sclerosis; O: Open; PASI: Psoriasis area and severity index; prtps: Participants; PS: Psoriasis; R: Randomized; RA: Rheumatoid arthritis; RO: Recent onset; SCP: Stimulated C-peptide; SLE: Systemic lupus erythematosus; T1DM: Type 1 diabetes mellitus; Treg: Regulatory T cells; Vit: Vitamin.