Immune function can be severely compromised by a lack of vitamin D, new findings suggest.
Vitamin D plays an important role in helping the body absorb calcium. It is made in the skin during exposure to sunlight and is present in some foods including fortified milk. But over a billion people around the world are estimated to be deficient in vitamin D due to lack of exposure to sunshine.
Vitamin D may have a significant role in reducing the risk of autoimmune diseases. But the research on its role in such conditions is not conclusive, according to researchers at the University of Ulster.
Dr Mary Ward, of the University of Ulster, UK, and colleagues examined vitamin D levels and biomarkers of inflammation among 957 Irish adults aged 60 years and over.
Analysis showed that those who were deficient in vitamin D were more likely to have high levels of inflammatory biomarkers, which are linked to heart disease and conditions such as multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis.
The findings appear in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism today (26 February).
Dr Ward says: "This study is the first to find a connection between vitamin D levels and inflammation in a large sample of older individuals. Our data suggest vitamin D may be involved in maintaining the health of the immune system as well as the skeletal system."
She added: "Immune function may be compromised in older individuals with vitamin D deficiency. Ensuring older individuals have optimal vitamin D levels may be a way to boost immune function in this population, but this needs to be confirmed through additional studies."
Laird, E. et al. Vitamin D Deficiency is Associated with Inflammation in Older Irish Adults. Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism 26 February 2014.
Leave a Reply