Lorraine: Dr Amir says spine could shrink if deficient in vitamin D
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Vitamin D is absolutely crucial for both physical and mental health. Vitamin D also has known effects on lung development and the immune system which may be important in the development, severity, and course of allergic diseases warns experts.
Vitamin D serves multiple important functions in the immune system and acts to stimulate the immune system against various infections, such as tuberculosis.
In addition, studies suggest that vitamin D may play an important role in the prevention of various allergic diseases.
Allergic diseases of nearly all types, including asthma, allergic rhinitis, eczema, and even anaphylaxis have become much more common over the past few decades with researchers hypothesising it could be linked to a vitamin D deficiency.
In a study published in Hindawi, vitamin D and its role as a protective factor in allergies was analysed.
The study noted: “We now know that vitamin D receptors (VDRs) are expressed in many cell types, including various immune cells, suggesting the role of vitamin D on immune system.
“The human immune system is divided into two branches: adaptive and innate immunity.
“There is plenty of evidence to show that vitamin D has significant effects on both of them.
“Finding suggests that sufficient vitamin D levels may help to control infections and reduce inflammatory responses, resulting in viral infections causing less severe symptoms.”
Another study published in the National Library of Health looked at the impact of vitamin D deficiency on asthma, allergic rhinitis and wheezing symptoms.
Vitamin D deficiency has been declared a public health problem for both adults and children worldwide, began the study.
“Asthma and related allergic diseases are the leading causes of morbidity in children.”
The objective of the study was to investigate the potential role of vitamin D deficiency in childhood asthma and other allergic diseases such as allergic rhinitis and wheezing.
It was found that vitamin D deficiency was a significant correlate for asthma, allergic rhinitis and wheezing.
The prevalence of asthma and allergic diseases has been increasing rapidly in western and industrialised countries, and it was recently proposed that Vitamin D deficiency may explain some part of this pattern.
“Vitamin D deficiency was a strong correlate for asthma, allergic rhinitis and wheezing,” concluded the study.
If you’re worried that you might have a vitamin D deficiency, you should consider speaking to a doctor.
The doctor may suggest you eat more vitamin D-rich foods or add supplements to your diet.
Vitamin D can be found in just a few foods, and only in relatively small amounts.
Some of the best sources include oily fish – sardines, salmon and mackerel, for example -, meat, and eggs.
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