This way you can make sure you are supplementing the right levels if you do need more. If you suspect you are low in vitamin D, you should ask your doctor for a test.
Vitamin D is known to help the immune system, which is promising for protecting you from many different types of illness.Įxposing your skin to the sun is one way to get vitamin D.Īs of 2014, experts predicted that about 1 billion people worldwide have low levels of vitamin D or a deficiency making it one of the most common vitamin deficiencies. The best ways to reduce your risk of being infected with the coronavirus is to follow CDC and WHO guidelines, what your local officials say and to take care of your health as much as you can overall. It's important to know that although the coronavirus does affect the respiratory system, researchers and doctors know little about how vitamin D affects your risk of catching COVID-19 at this time. "That makes vitamin D especially crucial for maintaining a functioning immune system that's capable of fighting back foreign pathogens," Tolentino says. T cells actually detect and destroy foreign pathogens - like viruses. One of the main functions of vitamin D is to help activate T cells, aka the "killer cells" in the body. Further, "low serum levels of calcidiol are also associated with higher susceptibility to infections like tuberculosis, influenza, and viral infections of the upper respiratory tract," Tolentino says. "Some studies have shown that vitamin D deficiency is even associated with greater risk of self-reported upper respiratory tract infections," Tolentino says. Research shows that vitamin D plays an important role in immune function, and a deficiency in it is shown to increase your susceptibility to infection.
You've probably heard that vitamin D is important for your bones, but it supports your body in other ways, too."While we generally associate vitamin D with musculoskeletal health, it actually has several functions in the body, including the role it plays in immune function and reducing inflammation," Tolentino says. "Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin that our bodies use to absorb and maintain healthy calcium and phosphorus levels, which are necessary to grow and maintain our bones," Tolentino says. Unlike other vitamins, it requires conversion in the liver and kidneys to make it an active hormone. It's also technically a hormone that regulates how much calcium is in your blood. Vitamin D is unique because it's one of only two vitamins that your body can produce on its own (the other is vitamin K), and you can also get it from other sources like food or supplements.
They jury's out on how exactly it can protect you from the coronavirus, but some medical experts recommend taking a vitamin D supplement to help boost your immune system.īelow, Jacyln Tolentino, a physician at Parsley Health in Los Angeles, explains how vitamin D works, how to get enough of it, what happens when you have a deficiency and if it can help protect your immune system. Studies suggest that vitamin D can help prevent respiratory infections or reduce the severity of them, especially if you have a deficiency. Once thought as the vitamin for strong bones, vitamin D actually does a lot more for your body - including support your immune system. Vitamin C is a popular choice for supporting immunity, but another key nutrient for your immune system is vitamin D. Even if you are exposed to a virus, the coronavirus or others, if your immune system is strong, you have a better chance of not getting sick. Read more: Should you take quercetin for immune health? What you need to knowīoosting your immune system is one of the best things you can do because it is your body's key defense when it comes to fighting a virus. You know that social distancing, working from home and staying inside in general is one way to protect yourself - but are there other measures you can take? The global coronavirus pandemic definitely left people wondering how to keep themselves well. Vitamin D is important for many functions in your body, not just your bone health.