Carried out by researchers at Johns Hopkins University the study set out to look at which potentially treatable factors are associated with interstitial lung disease (ILD) a relatively rare group of disorders characterized by lung scarring and inflammation. The disease may lead to progressive disabling and irreversible lung damage and once diagnosed most people do not live longer than five years. Although many cases are caused by environmental toxins such as asbestos or coal dust ILD can also be caused by autoimmune disorders infections medication side effects and even from unknown causes. To assess a possible link wth vitamin D