A lack of vitamin D can cause chronic inflammation, according to an Australian study.
- Vitamin D deficiency can lead to a lack of calcium and phosphorus.
- Symptoms of this deficiency are usually muscle weakness, fatigue, and depressed mood.
Inflammation helps protect the body against injury and infection. Nevertheless, it can be a determining factor in many diseases with inflammatory components (heart disease, Crohn’s disease, type 2 diabetes, lupus, etc.). According to a study published in the journal International Journal of Epidemiologyresearchers at the University of South Australia have established a direct link between low levels of vitamin D and chronic inflammation.
294,970 attendees
Scientists analyzed the genetic data of 294,970 people, from the UK Biobank, to determine if this link was proven. They compared vitamin D concentration with C-reactive protein, the commonly used inflammation biomarker.
According to the results, people who had high levels of inflammation had high levels of C-reactive protein. However, no evidence of inflammation on vitamin D levels was found. “High levels of C-reactive protein are generated by the liver in response to inflammation, so when the body experiences chronic inflammation, it also shows higher levels of C-reactive protein,” explains Dr. Ang Zhou, lead author of the study.
Make up for the lack of vitamin D
An increase in vitamin D in people suffering from a deficiency could reduce chronic inflammation and limit the risk of chronic diseases with an inflammatory component. In addition, the study shows that a good level of vitamin D helps to reduce complications related to obesity.
Essential in the mineralization of bones and teeth, vitamin D is synthesized by the body under the action of ultraviolet rays. It also helps in fixing calcium. It can be found in certain foods, in particular egg yolk or oily fish.
