Many health benefits have been attributed to Vitamin D, including better calcium absorption and a better immune system. Now a new study published in The Journal of Immunology gives us another reason to get a healthy dose of this vitamin as it can also inhibit inflammation.
Researchers from National Jewish Health came to this conclusion when they incubated human white blood cells with different levels of vitamin D and exposed them to lipopolysaccharide—a molecule that induces intense inflammatory responses.
The batch dosed with only 15 nanograms per milliliter (ng/mL) of vitamin D produced high levels of cytokines IL-6 and TNF-alpha, which play big roles in the inflammatory response. Those containing 30 ng/mL of vitamin D, however, significantly reduced the inflammation. The best results were achieved when the human white blood cells contained 50 ng/mL.
This is certainly good news for patients who suffer from inflammatory conditions. "Patients with chronic inflammatory diseases, such as asthma, arthritis, and prostate cancer, who are vitamin D deficient, may benefit from vitamin D supplementation to get their serum vitamin D levels above 30 nanograms per milliliter," says lead author Elena Goleva, assistant professor of pediatrics at National Jewish Health.
Vitamin D is commonly found in foods like salmon or tuna fish. But remember not to self-medicate; before making any decisions about your health, consult with your doctor to make sure this won't have a negative impact on your well-being.
For more on vitamins, check these out on FN:
- Vitamin D May Help Diminish Symptoms of Depression in Your Child
- What You Should Know about Taking Vitamins and Food Supplements
- Vitamin ABCs: Which vitamins should you really be taking?
- Vitamin B12 and Folic Acid May Help Improve Your Memory
(Photo by hatebox via sxc.hu)
