Vitamin D And AutoImmune Disease: Understanding The Link!

Vitamin D is vital for the body as it helps with bone health, immune system function, cell growth, nervous system function, and muscle function. It plays an important role in the body and helps prevent many diseases. The sources of vitamin D include fatty fish, canned tuna, eggs, mushrooms, and fortified foods.

Our bodies produce vitamin D when exposed to sunlight but it comes with risks like skin cancer and tanning. This is why getting vitamin D from food supplements is best. Vitamin D deficiency is a common worldwide problem as it can affect infants, children, and adults.

It causes symptoms like mood changes, bone loss, muscle cramps, fatigue, and bone pain. It can also lead to serious health complications. So, it is important to maintain adequate levels of vitamin D. 

The Role Of Vitamin D

Vitamin D plays an important role in many aspects of health. It helps the body absorb calcium which helps strengthen the bones. It makes muscle movements easy as it regulates the amount of phosphate in the body. Vitamin D also enhances nerve health, immune function, and cardiovascular health. It is said to have anti-cancer benefits, too. 

A deficiency in vitamin D leads to joint pain, bone pain, muscle weakness or spasms, and problems with bone or tooth development. Vitamin D is essential for the body as it supports many aspects of health including:

• Immune health:

Vitamin D is necessary for the body as it helps the immune system to fight off bacteria and viruses. It also reduces inflammation and protects the body from diseases and infections. 

• Bone health:

Vitamin D helps absorb calcium, which helps strengthen the bones. It regulates the amount of phosphate in the body, essential for healthy bones. A deficiency in vitamin D can cause deformities in children and bone pain in adults. 

• Muscle health:

Vitamin D is essential for muscle movements. It makes movements easy and muscles strong. 

• Cardiovascular health: 

Many studies show that vitamin D helps improve cardiovascular health. 

• Nerve health:

Vitamin D enhances nerve health as it helps the nerves carry messages between the brain and the body. 

• Cancer risk: 

Some studies suggest that vitamin D helps lower the risk of cancer. Those with adequate vitamin D levels are less likely to get cancer. 

Understanding autoimmune diseases

Autoimmune diseases are where one’s immune system overacts, attacking and damaging the body’s healthy cells and tissues. The immune system normally creates proteins called antibodies to protect the body against harmful substances like toxins, viruses, and cancer cells. However, autoimmune disease will make it hard for the immune system to differentiate between healthy cells and invaders. It can be treated by reducing immune system activity. There are over 100 different types of autoimmune diseases but its cause is not exactly clear. Types of autoimmune diseases are;

• Type 1 diabetes:

Type 1 diabetes is when the antibodies attack and destroy the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. Those with type 1 diabetes will need to take insulin shots to survive.

• Rheumatoid arthritis:

The immune system produces antibodies that attach to the linings of the joints and when the immune system cells attack the joints, it causes swelling, inflammation, and pain. This condition is called rheumatoid arthritis and if it is left untread, it can lead to permanent joint damage. It can treated by taking medications to reduce immune system overactivity.

• Systemic lupus erythematosus:

Lupus can affect different parts of the body and you will develop autoimmune antibodies that attach to tissues throughout the body. This results in lungs, joints, blood cells, kidneys, and nerve problems. It can be treated by oral prednisone, a steroid that reduces immune system function. 

• Psoriasis:

Psoriasis is a condition where the immune system’s blood cells called T-cells, collect in the skin. It causes the skin cells to reproduce quickly, which produces silvery, scaly plaques on the skin.      

• Vasculitis:

This autoimmune disease causes the immune system to attack and damage blood vessels. Any organ can be affected by vasculitis and its symptoms can vary. It can be treated by reducing immune system activity. 

• Multiple sclerosis:

When the immune system attacks the nerve cells, it causes symptoms like blindness, pain, weakness, and muscle spasms. These symptoms can be treated by suppressing the immune system. 

• Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy:

This autoimmune disease involves the immune system attacking the nerves. Its symptoms can last longer and if it is not treated early, one may even end up in a wheelchair. It can be treated by a procedure called plasmapheresis. 

• Guillain-barre syndrome:

When the immune system attacks the nerves controlling muscles in the legs, arms, and upper body, it leads to weakness. This condition can get serious but can be treated by filtering the blood with a procedure called plasmapheresis. 

• Graves’ disease:

This is a condition where the immune system produces antibodies that cause the thyroid gland to release too much thyroid hormone into the bloodstream. It can cause symptoms like nervousness, rapid heart rate, bulging eyes, weight loss, irritability, weakness, and brittle hair. It can treated by removing the thyroid gland using medicines or surgery. 

• Scleroderma:

Scleroderma, also known as systemic sclerosis is a condition that causes inflammation in the skin and other places of the body. It results in the overproduction of collagen, leading to visible hardening of the skin and damage to the blood vessels and organs like lungs, kidneys, and heart. 

• Hashimoto’s thyroiditis:

Antibodies from the immune system attack the thyroid gland, which slowly destroys the cells that produce the thyroid gland. It causes low levels of thyroid hormone (hyperthyroidism), resulting in dry skin, depression, constipation, weight gain, fatigue, and sensitivity to cold. 

• Myasthenia gravis:

It is a condition in which the antibodies bind to the nerves and make them unable to stimulate the muscles properly. The main symptom of myasthenia gravis is weakness that gets worse with activity. A drug called pyridostigmine can help treat this condition. 

• Inflammatory bowel disease: 

The immune system attacks the lining of the intestines, resulting in diarrhea, rectal bleeding, abdominal pain, weight loss, urgent bowel movements, and fever. This condition can be treated with immune-suppressing medicines. 

The link between vitamin D and autoimmune disease

Vitamin D is linked to autoimmune diseases in plenty of ways including;

• Vitamin D deficiency: 

Low levels or deficiency in vitamin D increases the risk of developing autoimmune disease. It also heightens the risk of disease activity. Vitamin D deficiency leads to autoimmune diseases like psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, and systemic sclerosis. 

• Vitamin D and immune function:

Vitamin D is said to have a key role in improving immune function and preventing disease occurrence, especially autoimmune diseases. Low serum levels of 25 (OH) have been associated with an increased risk of autoimmune diseases and high disease activity.

• Vitamin D supplementation:

Many healthcare professionals recommend vitamin D supplements to help treat and prevent autoimmune diseases. The National Library of Medicine states that vitamin D is proven to be effective in treating autoimmune diseases like systemic lupus erythematosus, autoimmune encephalomyelitis,  and collagen-induced arthritis. 

• Vitamin D and the negative feedback loop: 

The negative feedback loop that regulates vitamin D levels may be disturbed in patients with autoimmune diseases. 

• Vitamin D and disease severity:

Vitamin D levels and its deficiency are connected with disease severity, especially in those with multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, and systemic lupus erythematosus. 

• Vitamin D and blood sugar regulation: 

Type 1 diabetes is a type of autoimmune disease and many studies show that vitamin D helps with blood sugar regulation. Vitamin D can help prevent or lower the risk of type 1 diabetes. 

It is to be noted that vitamin D deficiency plays a major role in contributing to the development of autoimmune diseases. It may modulate the immune response and interact with them. Vitamin D can help decrease disease severity, aid in blood glucose regulation, and prevent disease development. 

Can vitamin D supplements help?

Vitamin D supplements are highly known to treat autoimmune disorders. It is said to be effective in treating autoimmune diseases like multiple sclerosis, inflammatory bowel disease, and type 1 diabetes. Vitamin D has immunosuppressant properties, which is considered a safe and therapeutic strategy to prevent and treat autoimmune disease. Those taking vitamin D supplements are less likely to develop autoimmune diseases as they reduce inflammation and modulate the immune system. 

Alternative supplements and treatments for autoimmune diseases include;

1. Herbs: 

• Green tea
• Chinese thunder god vine
• Turmeric 
• White willow
• Boswellia strata
• Ginger 
• Stephania 

2. Supplements: 

• Anti-inflammatory supplements
• Omega 3 fatty acids
• Probiotics
• Resveratrol supplements 
• Glutathione supplements 

3. Alternative medicines:

• Cupping
• Acupuncture
• Biofeedback
• Therapeutic touch 

Conclusion

Vitamin D is vital for the body as it helps with bone health, immune system function, cell growth, nervous system function, and muscle function. It plays an important role in the body and helps prevent many diseases. Vitamin D deficiency is a common worldwide problem as it can affect infants, children, and adults. It causes symptoms like mood changes, bone loss, muscle cramps, fatigue, and bone pain.

A deficiency in vitamin D can also lead to autoimmune disorders. Autoimmune diseases are where one’s immune system overacts, attacking and damaging the body’s healthy cells and tissues. The autoimmune disease will make it hard for the immune system to differentiate between healthy cells and invaders. There are several types of autoimmune diseases but they can be treated by reducing immune system activity. 

Vitamin D and autoimmune diseases are linked as a deficiency in vitamin D can lead to the development of autoimmune diseases. It may modulate the immune response and interact with them. Vitamin D can help decrease disease severity, aid in blood glucose regulation, and prevent disease development. It is said to be effective in treating autoimmune diseases like multiple sclerosis, inflammatory bowel disease, and type 1 diabetes. Vitamin D has immunosuppressant properties, which is considered a safe and therapeutic strategy to prevent and treat autoimmune disease.

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