Vitamin D 'triggers and arms' the immune system

[DrDoom]

Vitamin D seemed to have served me well this gloomy winter...no colds etc.

Shoo shoo swine flu......

The so-called sunshine vitamin, which can be obtained from food or manufactured by human skin exposed to the sun, plays a key role in boosting the immune system, researchers believe.

In particular it triggers and arms the body's T cells, the cells in the body that seek out and destroy any invading bacteria and viruses.

Scientists at the University of Copenhagen have discovered that Vitamin D is crucial to activating our immune defences and that without sufficient intake of the vitamin, the killer cells of the immune system – T cells – will not be able to react to and fight off serious infections in the body.

For T cells to detect and kill foreign pathogens such as clumps of bacteria or viruses, the cells must first be ‘triggered’ into action and "transform" from inactive and harmless immune cells into killer cells that are primed to seek out and destroy all traces of invaders.

The researchers found that the T cells rely on vitamin D in order activate and they would remain dormant, ‘naïve’ to the possibility of threat if vitamin D is lacking in the blood.

Professor Carsten Geisler from the Department of International Health, Immunology and Microbiology, said: "When a T cell is exposed to a foreign pathogen, it extends a signalling device or ‘antenna’ known as a vitamin D receptor, with which it searches for vitamin D.

"This means that the T cell must have vitamin D or activation of the cell will cease. If the T cells cannot find enough vitamin D in the blood, they won’t even begin to mobilise. ”

The discovery, the scientists believe, provides much needed information about the immune system and will help them regulate the immune response.

This is important not only in fighting disease but also in dealing with anti-immune reactions of the body and the rejection of transplanted organs.

Vitamin D 'triggers and arms' the immune system - Telegraph

[ecochuck]

Vitamin D is also called a steroidal hormone since one organ of the body can create it for other organs of the body to use. Here is a 29 minute video about it that sums up the information from over 100 scientists at a 2 day conference about vitamin D that was sponsored by the National Cancer Institute. YouTube - Vitamin D Prevents Cancer: Is It True? It helps many aspects of health.

It says that by getting enough vitamin D (lifeguard levels), it can reduce breast cancer by 70%. One scientist disagrees. He feels that enough vitamin D can eradicate breast cancer. It also reduces your chances of getting other kinds of cancer. It also helps with cardiovascular health and reduces your chances of getting heart attacks and strokes. Acai does not have vitamin D. You need to get lots of sunshine or take a supplement for it.

[Sailaway]

Do the supplements work as well? Sunlight has plenty of disadvantages too. But what we're find out about Vitamin D is remarkable.

[ecochuck]

Do the supplements work as well? Sunlight has plenty of disadvantages too. But what we're find out about Vitamin D is remarkable.

You have been scammed. The only disadvantage of sunlight is that it is free. You would have never been told that sunlight was bad for you if they did not want to sell you sunblock, sunscreen and skin dyes. They said that more people are sunbathing now than 10 years ago since doing it makes people feel and look better. Lack of sunlight can make you depressed. Since when is something that makes you feel and look better, bad for you.

Too much exercise, water and vitamin D at one time can kill you but it does not mean that those things are bad for you. The worst victims are the African Americans. They need 4 times as much sunlight as white people to get the same amount of vitamin D. They are dying at much younger ages and get more cancer, high blood pressure and cardiovascular problems than white people. Sunbathing reduces high blood pressure. Vitamin D supplements are the next best thing to sunlight. The companies scamming Americans with sunblock have made billions doing it.

America is not the country with the healthiest people, the thinnest people, the smartest people or the wisest people. It is the country with the richest people.

[Sailaway]

You have been scammed. The only disadvantage of sunlight is that it is free. You would have never been told that sunlight was bad for you if they did not want to sell you sunblock, sunscreen and skin dyes. They said that more people are sunbathing now than 10 years ago since doing it makes people feel and look better. Lack of sunlight can make you depressed. Since when is something that makes you feel and look better, bad for you.

I lived in Florida and knew (and worked for) way too many ex-beach bunnies and surfer boys who looked like they were 70 when they were 40. I'm not touching that. Granted, I'm not saying I'll live in shade like a hermit, but I've learned to limit my exposure to sunlight.

Any data on how much exposure (direct or indirect) is necessary to get an adequate daily dose of Vitamin D?

[Dayman]

You have been scammed. The only disadvantage of sunlight is that it is free. You would have never been told that sunlight was bad for you if they did not want to sell you sunblock, sunscreen and skin dyes. They said that more people are sunbathing now than 10 years ago since doing it makes people feel and look better. Lack of sunlight can make you depressed. Since when is something that makes you feel and look better, bad for you.

Too much exercise, water and vitamin D at one time can kill you but it does not mean that those things are bad for you. The worst victims are the African Americans. They need 4 times as much sunlight as white people to get the same amount of vitamin D. They are dying at much younger ages and get more cancer, high blood pressure and cardiovascular problems than white people. Sunbathing reduces high blood pressure. Vitamin D supplements are the next best thing to sunlight. The companies scamming Americans with sunblock have made billions doing it.

America is not the country with the healthiest people, the thinnest people, the smartest people or the wisest people. It is the country with the richest people.

Don't talk about health, please, when you have the Acai berry crap in your sig. And your old sig had cancer "cures" in it.

[DrDoom]

Acai berry crap

I think you are confusing Acai berries with Dingle berries......

[Polar Cub]

Any data on how much exposure (direct or indirect) is necessary to get an adequate daily dose of Vitamin D?

I wish there was.
I work and play outdoors, and still, I'm deficient. My doc put me on a vitamin D prescription. 50,000 units per pill. I go back for blood work in two weeks.
After that, I'll be taking D-1000.
I'm not a big milk drinker, by the way.

[Alley]

Similiar situation as you Polar Cub. I exercise and try to spend a lot of time outdoors still vitamin D deficient. Doctor has me on 1000 a day for the past year. It might be in my head, but I feel better. Rarely do I get sick. I also do not drink a lot of milk. Recently started drinking chocolate milk more gotta get it down somehow!

[Sycamore]

I wish there was.
I work and play outdoors, and still, I'm deficient. My doc put me on a vitamin D prescription. 50,000 units per pill. I go back for blood work in two weeks.
After that, I'll be taking D-1000.
I'm not a big milk drinker, by the way.

Me too. Apparently, I had no detectable level of Vit. D when I was tested. I nearly never drink milk. It wierds me out a bit.

[robot]

Any data on how much exposure (direct or indirect) is necessary to get an adequate daily dose of Vitamin D?

No. There really isn't even any data on how much vitamin D you should be getting period. The RDA is probably way to low. My doctor told me to take 2000 IUs a day.

[peahen]

I love this infographic:

Snake oil? Scientific evidence for health supplements | Information Is Beautiful

Find Vitamin D, and then find Acai for a good laugh.

[Cya]

I lived in Florida and knew (and worked for) way too many ex-beach bunnies and surfer boys who looked like they were 70 when they were 40. I'm not touching that. Granted, I'm not saying I'll live in shade like a hermit, but I've learned to limit my exposure to sunlight.

I'm with Sailaway. I limit my exposure to the sun as well. My parents drilled that into our heads very early on. We're fair skinned and burn easily. I'll happily pay the sunscreen companies whatever they want to avoid a 3rd degree burn on my face, back, arms, etc. That's some painful sh*t. You can easily tell which of my friends worship the sun.

I take a daily Centrum Ultra Womens, plus 2,000IU Vitamin D (just bumped up from 1,000IU), 1200mg Deep Sea Fish Oil, and an Energy Supplement which contains Ginsing, Astragalus and Licorice Root.
Plus, I include a lot of fiber in my diet.

I may be overdoing it with the vitamins/supplements, but I feel great. If I don't take them for a couple days, I can definitely feel the difference in my energy.

[Sailaway]

I'm with Sailaway. I limit my exposure to the sun as well. My parents drilled that into our heads very early on. We're fair skinned and burn easily. I'll happily pay the sunscreen companies whatever they want to avoid a 3rd degree burn on my face, back, arms, etc. That's some painful sh*t. You can easily tell which of my friends worship the sun.

I take a daily Centrum Ultra Womens, plus 2,000IU Vitamin D (just bumped up from 1,000IU), 1200mg Deep Sea Fish Oil, and an Energy Supplement which contains Ginsing, Astragalus and Licorice Root.
Plus, I include a lot of fiber in my diet.

I may be overdoing it with the vitamins/supplements, but I feel great. If I don't take them for a couple days, I can definitely feel the difference in my energy.

Which supplement? I could definitely go for what you're taking. Right now I get my Ginseng from tea but hot tea and hot weather don't mix...

[lucy van pelt]

I lived in Florida and knew (and worked for) way too many ex-beach bunnies and surfer boys who looked like they were 70 when they were 40. I'm not touching that. Granted, I'm not saying I'll live in shade like a hermit, but I've learned to limit my exposure to sunlight.

Agreed. My grandmother and her sister were only a year apart but my aunt spent a lot of time with her daughter in Florida while my grandmother avoided too much sun exposure. It showed and my grandmother looked years and years younger than my aunt. And if I didn't use sunscreen, I'd look like I was sunbathing directly on the sun. I'm happy to line some pockets and buy sunscreen, especially when my friend just had melanoma removed from her back. She's only 32 but she spent every summer down the shore.

[lucy van pelt]

Which supplement? I could definitely go for what you're taking. Right now I get my Ginseng from tea but hot tea and hot weather don't mix...

What about making it iced?

[Sailaway]

What about making it iced?

Ack, just can't do it. It's like pizza, I just gotta have it warm even though I know it's really the same yummy thing. It's just one of my quirks.

[Cya]

Which supplement? I could definitely go for what you're taking. Right now I get my Ginseng from tea but hot tea and hot weather don't mix...

It's at home, I'll ck the name.

Just look for energy supplements at the drug store-in the vitamin aisle. It's all natural- none of the stuff they put in Dexatrim, and that crap.

After looking at the link Peahen listed, I started back up on my Green Tea supplements (550mg). I was taking this faithfully for a while. Not sure why I stopped, except maybe swallowing all these pills every morning gets to be a bit much.

[lucy van pelt]

Ack, just can't do it. It's like pizza, I just gotta have it warm even though I know it's really the same yummy thing. It's just one of my quirks.

I get that. I like iced coffee but I have a friend who thinks it's entirely inappropriate. I just wondered if it was one of those things like the cold makes ginseng less effective or something. Aren't canned veggies less nutritious than frozen (or vice versa) because of some process used? Heating, freezing, whatever?

[Sailaway]

I get that. I like iced coffee but I have a friend who thinks it's entirely inappropriate. I just wondered if it was one of those things like the cold makes ginseng less effective or something. Aren't canned veggies less nutritious than frozen (or vice versa) because of some process used? Heating, freezing, whatever?

That's what I was always taught growing up, and I prefer frozen over canned anyway. Ever see canned peas? Nasty! I just can't eat gray food...

I have not attempted to verify this - I'd like to when I have some more free time - but a quick Google search brought this up:

Is canned food less nutritious than fresh foods? | Answerbag