Thousands of research studies
have demonstrated the powerful health-promoting properties of the prohormone
compound, vitamin D3. Researchers publishing
in The Journal of Immunology explain
the specific molecular and signaling events by which vitamin D
inhibits inflammation in the human body. In a very detailed analysis, scientists
show that low blood circulating levels of vitamin D do not adequately inhibit
the inflammatory cascade necessary to turn off this potentially destructive
mechanism.
Low levels of inflammation,
normally used by the body to fight pathogenic invaders, become a primary cause
of heart
disease, diabetes, many cancer lines and Alzheimer’s dementia. Additional evidence reported
in the British Journal of Nutrition demonstrates
that adequate vitamin D levels reduce critical markers of cardiovascular health
and can lead to significant reductions in body fat in overweight and obese
people. It is critical to have your vitamin D level checked, and supplement as
necessary to lower inflammation levels and risk of heart disease.
Vitamin D Lowers Inflammation to Prevent Chronic Disease and Stimulate
Immune Response Systems
Dr. Elena Goleva, lead scientist
from National Jewish Health, found that prior studies with vitamin D show a
clear and positive link between blood levels of the prohormone and a variety of
different health outcomes. Dr. Goleva and her team looked for specific
mechanisms to explain precisely how vitamin D functions at the cellular level
to prevent disease in the human body.
Dr. Goleva and her team of
researchers noted that vitamin D is a catalyst that initiates “a clear chain of cellular events, from the
binding of DNA, through a specific signaling pathway, to the reduction of
proteins known to trigger inflammation.” To test how vitamin D acts on immune and
inflammatory pathways, team scientists exposed human white blood cells to
varying levels of vitamin D and exposed them to an agent known to promote
intense inflammatory responses and advance disease processes.
Vitamin D Lowers Inflammatory Markers and Increases Health-Promoting
HDL Cholesterol
White blood cells that were
incubated with no vitamin D or a solution of 15 ng/mL produced very high levels
of the pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-6 and TNF-alpha. In vivo, these signaling
messengers are known to be responsible for the development and progression of
cardiovascular disease, certain forms of cancer and dementia. Cells incubated
at a concentration of 30 ng/mL and above showed a significantly reduced
response, while the highest level of inflammatory inhibition occurred at 50
ng/ml.
Supporting evidence for the
health-promoting effect of vitamin D as reported in the journal BMJ shows marked improvement in
cardiovascular biomarkers including HDL cholesterol. Additionally, researchers
found the hormone-like substance lowered the risk of lipid peroxidation, the
process responsible for making LDL cholesterol molecules sticky and prone to
form atherosclerotic plaque. They also determined that high circulating levels
of vitamin D were associated
with “significant reductions in fat mass”
in overweight and obese people.
There should be no doubt that the
millions of people living with grossly sub-optimal vitamin D levels are
dramatically increasing their risk of developing a plethora of potentially
deadly illnesses. Health-minded individuals will ensure they maintain a
circulating blood level of 50 to 70 ng/mL by means of a 25(OH)D blood test to
regulate systemic inflammation and fight chronic disease.
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment