Vitamin D and immunity

The role of vitamin D in the regulation of the immune system scientists directed along two parallel paths studies: Does vitamin D deficiency on the development of multiple sclerosis, type 1 diabetes and other autoimmune diseases in which the immune system attacks its own tissues and organs? And can receive vitamin D to strengthen the protection of the body to fight infectious diseases such as tuberculosis and seasonal flu? This topical area of ​​research, and the results have yet to receive.

Vitamin D and Multiple Sclerosis: Multiple sclerosis is more common farther north (or far south) of the equator than in sunny climates, and it can be assumed that the cause may be chronic deficiency of vitamin D. It has been found that white men and women with the most high levels of vitamin D risk of multiple sclerosis by 62% lower than those with the lowest levels of vitamin D.

Vitamin D and type 1 diabetes: Type 1 diabetes - another disease associated with geography: the child from Finland about 400 times more at risk of developing it than a child in Venezuela. 30-year study of Finnish researchers confirms that vitamin D may play a role in preventing the development of type 1 diabetes. More than 10,000 Finnish children who gave birth to vitamin D, almost 90% were less likely to develop type 1 diabetes than children who did not receive the supplement. Other European studies also have suggested that vitamin D may protect against the development of type 1 diabetes.

Vitamin D, the flu and the common cold: Influenza virus is particularly active in the winter, and falls in the summer. This has led to suggestions that the stimulus associated with a lack of sunlight causes outbreaks of influenza. Many scholars have suggested that vitamin D is such an incentive. Among these assumptions are put forward as follows:

• In winter months, the level of vitamin D is the lowest.
• The active form of vitamin D inhibits dangerous inflammatory reaction some white blood cells, at the same time, by activating immune cells, production of proteins fighting infection.
• Children with vitamin D deficiency are more prone to respiratory infections, while the children are often in the sun, suffer fewer respiratory infections.
• Adults with low vitamin D levels are more prone to coughs, colds and upper respiratory infections.

A recent Japanese study, which was attended by about 340 school-age children found that those participants who received daily 1,200 units of vitamin D, 40% less likely to fall ill with influenza A than children who received a placebo. There was no significant difference in the incidence of influenza B. In order to confirm the effectiveness of vitamin D in the prevention of flu, further research is needed.

Vitamin D and tuberculosis. Before the advent of antibiotics part of the standard treatment for tuberculosis was the sunlight and sun lamps. More recent studies have suggested that "vitamin sunlight" can be associated with the risk of tuberculosis. There is evidence that people who are suffering from tuberculosis, have lower levels of vitamin D, than healthy people of the same age with the same characteristics. Such studies are not observed in humans for a long time, so that they can not tell whether leads to vitamin D deficiency is an increased risk of tuberculosis, and whether intake of vitamin D to prevent its development.

Vitamin D and risk of premature death

There is reason to believe that vitamin D may even reduce the overall mortality. A combined analysis of multiple studies found that taking vitamin D in moderation is associated with a statistically significant 7% reduction in death from any cause. Before we announce the impact of vitamin D on total mortality, further research is needed.

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