Nutrition. Vitamins. You.
Researchers at the University of Chicago Medical Center (UChicago Medicine) have found an association between vitamin D deficiency and the likelihood of becoming infected with the Coronavirus.
Feeling dizzy or have vertigo? You’re not alone! There are more than 200,000 cases reported each year in United States. Recent clinical studies are reporting low levels of Vitamin D may be the cause!
Invite Health Podcast, Episode hosted by Jerry Hickey. Ph
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Can Vitamin D improve strength in younger people and help you keep mobile when you are older? That’s what we’re going to be discussing on today’s podcast episode. There are numerous studies that say that is true! Let’s discuss.
A recent headline reads, “Can Vitamin D Make You Stronger?” Well, a study from the University of Birmingham makes that case. Increased levels of Vitamin D led to stronger leg strength, according to the study published in the journal PLOS One. The level of Vitamin D was studied based on blood levels, not just dietary consumption. If you have young, healthy skin and you are out in the sun, the sun interacts with the cholesterol in your skin, then your liver, and then your kidneys all to be converted into the active form. In this particular study, researchers used the active form of Vitamin D.
A review of 310 adults (between the ages of 21 and 32) from seven different human clinical trials from Queen Mary University in London, found that Vitamin D supplementation increased upper arm and lower leg strength. The precursor that is stored in the liver is not yet activated (it has to go through the kidneys to be activated). The amount coming from the liver is easy to check because it is stored in the blood for two weeks. This level should be at least 35 and these studied indicate that that is enough to provide the muscle strength benefit. This does not mean that a level of 35 is perfect for all of the different benefits and attributes that come from the vitamin. Some of the its activities require higher levels in the blood, like a level of 50 or 55. I believe that a level between 50 to 75 is perfect. That Vitamin D then travels to the kidneys, interacts with Magnesium and is then converted to the fully active form.
Vitamin D Sports Injury Studies
The National Football League (NFL) holds a combine, where college athletes are tested in front of coaches and scouts. In 2014, the blood levels of vitamin D in 214 athletes were studied by researchers and they found that the athletes that had low levels, also had a higher risk of breaking or fracturing a bone and poorer muscle function. Over half of the athletes trying out for the NFL (59%) had inadequate Vitamin D. An additional 10% were actually deficient. The Hospital for Special Surgery in New York reported, “our study revealed that 86% of the players who missed competition because of strain injury had inadequate levels of Vitamin D. Lower extremity muscle strength or core muscle injury was present in 50% of athletes, which was stronger associated with lower Vitamin D levels.”
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A study done of the Pittsburgh Steelers found that 69% of the team members had low Vitamin D. They collected this data pre-season during their training camp. Those with the lowest levels were much more likely to get injured and were released from the team due to their injury. A separate study in 2011 was done on the New York Giants, where 30% of the team members had low levels themselves (to the point of deficient), 51% were insufficient (low but not deficient), and 17% were normal. They found that muscle injury was strongly correlated with the amount of Vitamin D.
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We are still in the midst of a pandemic and your health should be a priority. It is extremely important to turn to the fundamentals in order to keep your immune system working properly, including Vitamin C, Vitamin D and Zinc.
Vitamin D literally unites your immune system, helping it work in a more balanced way and making it very important during cough and cold season and in the protection of your lungs.
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A new report published in the Irish Medical Journal reports that Vitamin D supplements may aid in the resistance of respiratory infections, such as the coronavirus or limit the severity of the illness in those infected, according to researchers.
Study researchers note that Vitamin D is essential for bone and muscle health, immune support and more. Those are risk include individuals who do not get enough sun, have a vitamin D deficiency, are housebound, people with chronic disease and lung conditions and those who are smokers, obese or inactive. Vitamin D can be found in rich food sources, including oily fish, eggs, and fortified foods.
The research team recommends adults take 20-50 micrograms of Vitamin D per day, in order to receive its benefit. Dr. Declan Byrne, clinical senior lecturer, St. Jame’s Hospital and School of Medicine, Trinity College Dublin explains, “These recommendations are important while we await development of a vaccine and trial evidence of effective drug treatment for COVID-19. Our findings call for the immediate supplementation of all hospital inpatients, nursing home residents and older Irish adults with Vitamin D.” Dr. Byrne goes on, “Our findings also suggest that Vitamin D supplementation in the broader adult population, and particularly in frontline healthcare workers, may further help to limit infection and flatten the COVID-19 curve.”
Why Vitamin D is So Essential For Lung Health. Click here >>>
A secondary report also by Trinity College Dublin highlights the importance of increasing intake of Vitamin D, as “the vitamin plays a role in preventing respiratory infections, reducing antibiotic use, and boosting the immune system response to infections.”
A Message from Scientific Director and Pharmacist, Jerry Hickey, Ph.
Your immune system is very powerful and complex. When there is an infection, it has to do two things appropriately. It has to point itself at the infecting organism, identifying it and killing it. Then it has to mount a strong enough attack on the virus or bacteria to kill it, but not strong enough to hurt you. The communicators in your immune system are called Cytokines; chemicals that the immune cells release to communicate with other parts of the immune system. Some cytokines raise the level of attack – pro-inflammatory cytokines – and others calm your immune system down, called anti-inflammatory cytokines.
What is happening when dealing with this Coronavirus, is similar to what you see in sepsis and ebola. If your immune system is strong, the more delicate parts of the immune system can go in and wipe out the virus and you will be okay. But for people with health conditions – older people with conditions especially – their immune system is not working well. If they are lacking vitamin D, they are in trouble. Because the immune system is not working well. This is stuck in the upper respiratory tract and becoming viral pneumonia. This is getting into the lungs and it starts to damage, inflame and kill lung cells. This triggers a violent counter-reaction from your immune system; there is a massive release of these very powerful communicators that trigger inflammation.
Vitamin D is needed by your immune cells to release their powerful weapons. But you also need this vitamin to defend your immune system.