Linking Vitamin D And Immune System Health

For much of my adult life, I’ve heard the mantra that Vitamin C is the miracle vitamin.  Turns out that title may belong to Vitamin D.  Researchers are increasingly finding about the importance of vitamin D for immune system function.

Linking Vitamin D And Immune System Health

Scientists have suspected for quite some time that proper vitamin D levels are linked to reduced rates of many types of cancers.  Known as the “sunshine vitamin,” the primary source of vitamin D comes from sun exposure.  Specifically UV-B radiation, which is present at much lower intensities as you go further north, as well as in the winter months.  Most Americans also know milk is fortified with vitamin D.  When it comes to the immune system, scientists have known for a long time now that people living in northern U.S. latitudes have higher rates of prostate cancer, breast cancer, and colon cancer than those living further south.  Furthermore, although vitamin D is known as the “sun vitamin,” researchers have known since at least 1936 that people diagnosed with skin cancer tend to have lower rates of other cancers.

More recent research into vitamin D and immune system health has yielded evidence that it may be necessary for proper function of the innate immune system.  This is the system that mounts an immediate defense against foreign substances in the body.  Scientists recently published work showing that a part of the immune system regulated by vitamin D has been found in every primate species ever studied.  This leads them to the conclusion that, since its involvement has been retained through 60-million years of evolution, it must provide a vital survival advantage.  In addition to immune system function, vitamin D has been shown to be involved in suppressing general inflammation, regulating calcium uptake, improving bone health, reducing the risk of multiple sclerosis, improving lung function, and regulating cell growth.

With recent studies suggesting that as many as 50% of adults in the U.S. (up to 70% of kids) may be deficient in vitamin D, we will likely begin seeing more about this in the news.  People will start to think more about this, since changes in lifestyle (among other things) tend to keep us away from UV-B these days.  You may want to check out this post on ways to increase your vitamin D levels if its an area of concern.