Study Finds Vitamin D3 Important for Fighting Infections – Helps Strengthen Defenses Against COVID-19

Studies question the role of vitamin D2 in human health, but its sibling, vitamin D3, may be important in combating infectious diseases.

A new study found that there was a significant difference between the two vitamin Ds, and that vitamin D2 had suspicious effects on human health. However, this study found that vitamin D3 may help balance people’s immune system and strengthen their defenses against viral infections such as Covid-19.

In a collaborative study by the University of Sally and Brighton, researchers investigated the effects of vitamin D supplements (D2 and D3) taken daily for 12 weeks on the activity of genes in people’s blood.

Contrary to widely accepted views, the research team found that both types of vitamin D No It has the same effect. They found evidence that vitamin D3 can alter the immune system and strengthen the body against viral and bacterial disorders.

Professor Colin Smith, the lead author of the Sally University study, who began this study while attending Brighton University, said:

“We have shown that vitamin D3 appears to stimulate the body’s type I interferon signaling system, which is an important part of the immune system that provides the first line of defense against bacteria and viruses. Therefore, a healthy vitamin D3 condition may help prevent viruses and bacteria from building a foothold in the body.

“Our study suggests that it is important for people to take vitamin D3 supplements or properly fortified foods, especially during the winter months.”

Some foods, such as some breakfast cereals, yogurt, and bread, are fortified with vitamin D, but few naturally contain vitamins. Vitamin D3 is naturally produced by the skin when exposed to sunlight and artificial UVB light, but some plants and fungi produce vitamin D2.

Many people live in places like the United Kingdom where winter sunlight is restricted, so their levels of vitamin D3 are inadequate. The Covid-19 pandemic also limited people’s natural exposure to the sun as they spend more time at home.

Professor Susan Lanham New, co-author of the study and director of nutritional science at Sally University, said:

“We found that vitamin D2 and vitamin D3 do not have the same effect on human genetic activity, but the lack of effect when examining vitamin D2 is larger to show the difference in effect. This means that there is an urgent need for research, but these results indicate that vitamin D3 should be the preferred form of fortified foods and supplements. “

The study is published at Immunology Frontier..

Reference: “Vitamin D₂ And D₃ Louise R. Durrant, Giselda Bucca, Andrew Hesketh, Carla Möller-Levet, Laura Tripkovic, Huihai Wu, Kathryn H. Hart, John C. Mathers, Ruan M. Elliott, Susan A. Lanham-New and Colin P. Smith, February 24, 2022, Immunology Frontier..
DOI: 10.3389 / fimmu.2022.790444