{"id":396,"date":"2021-05-28T13:11:34","date_gmt":"2021-05-28T13:11:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/brimwithzest.com\/?p=396"},"modified":"2023-10-08T14:14:16","modified_gmt":"2023-10-08T14:14:16","slug":"vitamin-d-deficiency-covid-19-are-they-connected","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wpd.cloudron.us\/?p=396","title":{"rendered":"Vitamin D deficiency, lung health & COVID 19 : An update"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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The pandemic Covid-19 has brought more awareness towards our immune status. Vitamin D<\/a> is now gaining more attention than Vitamin C and zinc. Let’s see why correcting vitamin D deficiency is the most relevant action to do now!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Vitamin D deficiency is prevalent in more than half the world population. It’s role in our health is much more than bone mineralization and calcium homeostasis. It is in fact a steroid hormone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now, we know that vitamin D receptors are present in all the organ systems in our body, influencing more than 200 genes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Skin is the major source of vitamin D in our body as our dietary intake is mostly insufficient. When ultraviolet B rays of the sun fall on our skin, 7 dehydro cholesterol present in our skin is converted to pre vitamin D3.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The pre vitamin D3 formed in the skin has to be activated. First step of activation occurs in the liver where pre vitamin D3 is converted to 25(OH)Vit D3. The second and final activation occurs in kidneys where it is converted to 1,25 dihydroxy VitaminD3. This is the metabolically active hormone Vitamin D3.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The inactive form of vitamin D <\/em>is stored and converted to active form in the immune cells also. Excess Vitamin D is stored in the fat tissue .<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Vit D deficiency is linked to increased incidence of common cold and influenza. It is also linked with impaired lung function in asthma and COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Vitamin D and lung health<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Our lungs are in continuous contact with the external environment through breathing. It s a very delicately designed organ to facilitate easy gas exchange. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is constantly exposed to too many micro organisms and toxins. Despite this, the lungs are mostly healthy and inflammation free due to our immune system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The lungs have their own highly specialised, self-reliant, and localised defence system. Many studies suggest that vitamin D orchestrates the immune system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Innate immunity <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It is the first line, non-specific defence mechanism that comes to play immediately when something suspicious is encountered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Initially, the air we breath passes through filtering mechanism consisting of hair and mucus.The mucus, not only physically traps the microorganisms, it also produces antimicrobial agents. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The nasal mucus membrane effectively filters particles more than 2 microns in size. Since Covid-19 virus is much smaller, (50 -140 nanometres) it easily enters the lungs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are three main players for innate immunity of the lungs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n