27/06/2020
Vitamin D is fundamental to health in general
Vitamin D feeds the immune system and prevents inflammatory driven disease in the lungs.
Personally, since monitoring my vitamin D levels and increasing my intake, I've found that I get sick from the common cold far less frequently.
You can prevent infections and strengthen your immune response by understanding how nutrients and the oral-lung-gut microbiome work together.
There is emerging evidence that increasing vitamin D levels either through lifestyle or supplementation can reduce asthma symptoms and severity among individuals with inadequate levels.
Research has found that vitamin D deficiency can contribute to poor respiratory functioning and health in middle-aged adults. Vitamin D also plays an important role in respiratory health through its effects on lung development and structure, respiratory muscle strength, inflammation and immune response to respiratory pathogens.
Studies have measured serum vitamin D levels, lung function and respiratory symptoms in more than 5000 baby boomers at the Busselton Healthy Ageing Study and found that low levels of vitamin D were associated with respiratory illnesses such as asthma and bronchitis, and respiratory symptoms common to these conditions including wheezing and chest tightness.
Investigators also found that low lung function (Forced Vital Capacity or FVC) was significantly related to low vitamin D levels. Conversely high levels of vitamin D were associated with better lung function suggesting it plays an important role in maintaining good respiratory health.
The effect of vitamin D on respiratory health remained the same even when factoring in other aspects that contribute to vitamin D levels such as seasonal fluctuation, obesity and other chronic diseases.
Vitamin D protects against tooth decay, gum disease, and drives bone development as well as lung alveolar formation. Vitamin D also has a huge impact on the human microbiome, which we have been covering.
Did you or a family member ever have asthma or breathing issues?