What Role Does Vitamin D Play For A Stronger Immune System?

Vitamin D is vital when it comes to immune health. It plays a surprising role in the immune system and the way it wards off many different types of respiratory infections. 

A healthy immune system is among the top-rated things everyone should strive for since it is the key defense of the body when fighting off viruses. Even when exposed to viruses, if the person has a strong immune system, they usually won’t get sick. 

Vitamin C is usually one of the popular choices to support immunity, yet Vitamin D is often an underrated nutrient when it comes to immune health. Once regarded as a vitamin to support strong bones and teeth, vitamin D does far more for the human body than most know, and this includes supporting the immune system. 

Research and studies are now promoting that Vitamin D assists with the prevention of different types of respiratory infections or lowers the severity of these infections, especially for those with a deficiency. 

– The Importance Of Vitamin D

Vitamin D is one of those unique nutrients since it is 1 of only 2 vitamins that the human body is unable to produce naturally on its own. The only other vitamin that the body cannot produce is Vitamin K. It is also possible to obtain vitamin D from sources such as supplements or food. Vitamin D is also technically regarded as a “hormone” that regulates the levels of calcium in the blood. 

Unlike the other vitamins, Vitamin D requires a process of conversion in the kidneys and the liver to turn it into an “active hormone”. Vitamin D is also one of the fat-soluble vitamins that the body uses to absorb as well as maintain healthy phosphorus and calcium levels which is necessary to maintain and grow bones. 

While vitamin D is generally linked with bone and musculoskeletal health, this vitamin actually performs many functions inside the body, which include a role in reducing inflammation and immune function. 

– Information About Immune Health And Vitamin D

Studies have shown that Vitamin D plays a significant role when it comes to immune function. A deficiency in Vitamin D has also displayed an increase in susceptibility to infections. Certain research has even shown that a deficiency in Vitamin D is also linked with increased risks of upper-respiratory-tract infections. In addition to this, low calcidiol serum levels ( one of the forms of Vitamin D) are also linked to increased susceptibility to different types of infections including influenza, tuberculosis, along with viral infections that affect the upper respiratory tract. 

Vitamin D serves the vital function of helping to activate T cells, also known as the “killer cells” present in the human body. The T cells perform the function of detecting and destroying foreign pathogens like viruses. This makes Vitamin D particularly important when it comes to the maintenance of a healthy immune system that is able to fight back when exposed to foreign pathogens, especially viruses that cause different illnesses and diseases. 

– The Best Sources Of Vitamin D

Most people experience Vitamin D deficiency since they don’t know how to ensure they are getting enough. The three main sources of vitamin D include food sources, exposure to sunlight, and Vitamin D supplementation. 

Food Sources

This is the easiest way to absorb Vitamin D and is made available from the diet or a supplement such as Vitamin D2 and D3. This is a natural Vitamin D form that the body produces from sunlight, yet it can also be derived by consuming certain types of food.

Vitamin D3 is common in animal-sourced food including:

– Liver

– Oily fish like sardines, salmon, and tuna

– Eggs

– Supplements 

– Cheese

Vitamin D2 is mainly found in fortified foods and plant sources such as:

– Supplements

– Fortified foods such as orange juice and cereals

– Mushrooms

Exposure To Sunlight

Exposing the skin to direct sunlight is the best and most natural method to obtain Vitamin D. Vitamin D produces endogenously inside the body as soon as UV light triggers Vitamin D synthesis as it comes into contact with the skin. 

Vitamin D Supplements

For those that are not able to get enough Vitamin D naturally, it is advisable to take a Vitamin D supplement to enhance or boost these levels in the body. Most people prefer taking capsules or tablets, but not every person likes taking supplements in these forms. Today there are specially formulated sprays that easily deliver Vitamin D supplementation directly through the mouth (the soft tissue), which makes an excellent alternative to capsules and tablets, especially for those that dislike or struggle to swallow tablets or capsules. 

In autoimmune diseases, the immune cells are typically highly responsive to ameliorative effects linked to Vitamin D. For this reason it is highly beneficial to supplement vitamin D, especially in deficient people that suffer from these types of diseases.