Vitamin D levels increasing your immune system against bacterial and viral infection
Vitamin D is naturally produced when the skin is exposed to ultraviolet light and occurs in very small amounts in a small amount of foods including fatty fish, eggs and meat.
Vitamin D naturally stimulates the immune system by producing an active hormone called Calcitrol. This is only produced when there are sufficiently high levels of active vitamin D within the body. This hormone increases the activity of Natural Killer Cells which destroys cell affected by viruses or tumours and also increases the activity macrophages (white blood cells). Calcitrol also increases the production of Cathelicidin by macrophages, which is a natural antibiotic that can kill bacteria and some viruses.
During times of decreased sunlight such as winter when colds and flus increase vitamin D levels can be addressed with the use of supplements in order to increase the efficiency of your immune system and keep you healthy.
Dr Patrick Ryder (MChiro)
Doctor of Chiropractic
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