Vitamin D and Inflammation: What It Can Reveal About Your Health

Chronic inflammation is a condition that can cause serious health problems like asthma, inflammatory bowel disease, and atherosclerosis-related cardiovascular disease. Chronic inflammation is difficult to identify but it keeps damaging your tissues and organs. There are multiple causes for chronic inflammation including lifestyle, environmental factors, auto immune diseases, infections and genetics.

But did you know that a deficiency of vitamin D also causes chronic inflammation? Yes, according to research vitamin D and deficiency and inflammation are related. In this blog, we will explore more about how vitamin D reduces inflammation and how to manage chronic inflammation by using vitamin D tablets.

What is Inflammation?

Inflammation is your body’s response to any outside threats like microbial invaders, poisonous chemicals, and physical injuries. During inflammation your body releases chemicals to trigger an immune response. This response can help heal damaged tissue or fight off infection. Inflammation starts when our body encounters an infection and ends when the infection is healed.

What are the Types of Inflammation?

1. Acute Inflammation

Acute inflammation is a short term response from your body against any foreign object. One common example is sore throat which is caused by inflammation in the throat area. White blood cells are responsible for fighting against infection. When you suffer from a cold, your lymph nodes often swell because of the inflammation caused by the white blood cells killing the invaders.

A sore throat is a sign that your body is responding to the infection. Acute inflammation can last for a few days and then subsides on its own.

2. Chronic Inflammation

Chronic inflammation is an autoimmune condition that can last for months. Chronic inflammation is harmful to the body. Conditions like gastritis can cause chronic inflammation in the body. This type of chronic inflammation can increase the risk of stomach cancer by 75%. (1)

Vitamin D Deficiency and Chronic Inflammation

Whenever there is an inflammation in the body, the damaged tissue sends signals to the body. The tissue then releases special molecules called “C-Reactive Protein” into your bloodstream. These protein molecules are one of the indicators of inflammation. According to studies vitamin D has shown strong anti-inflammatory properties and deficiency of vitamin D can lead to chronic inflammation.

According to genetic research from the University of South Australia there is a relation between low vitamin D levels and elevated CRP in the blood. The study also suggests that boosting vitamin D in people with a deficiency may reduce chronic inflammation.

Relation Between Vitamin D and CRP:

A study was conducted to identify the relationship between vitamin D and CRP. The study analysed participants’ active serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] levels which indicate vitamin D level in the body. It also considered health and lifestyle and blood samples for biomarker and genetic assessments.

Using linear and non-linear Mendelian randomization (MR) analyses, the investigators looked for associations between serum 25(OH)D and CRP. The study found a relationship between low vitamin D levels and elevated CRP in the blood. But the study also found that the relationship is one way that is vitamin D may be a driver for CRP levels, but not the other way around.

The study also found that the anti-inflammatory benefits of improving vitamin D levels are limited to people with deficiencies.

How Does Vitamin D Levels Influences Inflammation?

Vitamin D is a fat soluble vitamin that is precursor which inhibits the production of inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin-12 (IL-12). Vitamin D acts to modify the responses so that T-cell polarization moves away from an inflammatory type of response (Th1) to the production of more protective T-cell phenotypes.

As per research, these actions may help to lower inflammation, thus reducing the risk or severity of many chronic diseases.

How to Improve Your Vitamin D Levels?

• Sunshine

Early morning sunlight is good for improving vitamin D levels in the body. Exposing your skin to the sun helps the body make vitamin D from ultraviolet B (UVB) light. It is important to remember that early morning sun exposure is good for boosting vitamin D level in the body, avoid hot, midday sun to prevent burning.

• Foods

Health experts recommend that adults have 15 mcg of vitamin D per day. Incorporate the following foods to fulfill your vitamin D requirements.

• oily fish, such as salmon, mackerel, and tuna
• fortified milk
• beef liver
• egg yolks
• mushrooms
• fortified breakfast cereals

• Supplements

Take vitamin D supplement daily to prevent vitamin D deficiency. Choose a vitamin D supplement with Vitamin D3, a quick absorbing type of vitamin.

Conclusion

We hope this blog has helped you understand the relationship between vitamin D and chronic inflammation. Chronic inflammation can cause various health conditions like lung disease, heart disease, diabetes and cancer. Identify the vitamin D deficiency signs to prevent chronic inflammation. Incorporate food rich in vitamin D, vitamin D supplements and take early morning sunlight to improve vitamin D levels in the body.

FAQs

1. Can too much vitamin D cause joint inflammation?

Yes, too much vitamin D causes joint inflammation. Excessive vitamin D levels can lead to a condition called hypercalcemia, which can manifest as joint pain and muscle weakness

2. Can vitamin D cause skin inflammation?

There is no evidence that suggests vitamin D causes skin inflammation.

3. What does vitamin D do for inflammation?

Vitamin D helps to reduce inflammation by improving immune response, inhibiting inflammatory markers and regulating the production of cytokines.

4. What deficiency causes inflammation?

Vitamin D deficiency causes inflammation.