Fighting Infection With Vitamin D

Vitamin D may be crucial to fending off infection, according to a recent report. But as many as 70 percent of the U.S. population may be D-deficient, says report author Adrian Gombart, a principal investigator with the Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University.

The report highlights vitamin D’s role in inducing the expression of cathelicidin, a compound integral to the immune system’s first line of defense against wounds, bacteria, and viruses. The report also underscores vitamin’s D’s role in reducing risk for conditions such as cancer, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, and influenza. Vitamin D appears to curb inflammation, keep blood pressure in check, and protect against heart disease as well.

D deficiency may be particularly prevalent during the winter months, when lack of sunlight exposure slows up the body’s synthesis of the vitamin. In order to maintain optimal levels of vitamin D, many health experts recommend taking a daily supplement.

Fighting Infection With Vitamin D originally appeared on About.com Alternative Medicine on Thursday, December 10th, 2009 at 06:00:01.