Inflammation occurs when a person’s immune system feels it is necessary and sends inflammatory cells to the area that is perceived to be in danger, which can cause pain and swelling, as well as potential damage, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Chronic inflamation occurs when this occurs regularly, even when the body does not need an immune response. According to a new study, regulating the levels of a specific vitamin can help address this problem.
Research shows that what you eat can improve inflammation while there are also certain foods that can make it worse. This is why those dealing with chronic inflammation may want to do their best to avoid things like certain vegetable oils and foods high in refined carbohydrates. Beyond that, they may also want to make sure they’re getting adequate amounts of the sunshine vitamin, as a study has found that vitamin D could be a valuable supplement for anyone dealing with chronic inflammation.
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The investigation
During the study, published in the International Journal of EpidemiologyThe researchers analyzed genetic data from the UK Biobank regarding the health and lifestyle of 294,970 participants of white-British descent.
Those behind the analysis found that participants who were deficient in vitamin D had higher levels of C-reactive protein, which is associated with inflammation.
“The liver generates high levels of C-reactive protein in response to inflammation, so when your body experiences chronic inflammation, it also shows higher levels of C-reactive protein,” said lead researcher Dr. Ang Zhou of UniSA. daily science.
In contrast, the researchers also found that participants with high levels of vitamin D had lower inflammatory markers.
“This study examined vitamin D and C-reactive proteins and found a one-way relationship between low vitamin D levels and high C-reactive protein levels, expressed as inflammation,” Zhou said. “Increasing vitamin D in people with deficiencies can reduce chronic inflammation, helping them avoid a number of related diseases.”
When it comes to how vitamin D can decrease the severity of inflammation, Jesse Feder, RDN, CSCS a My Crohn’s and Colitis teamHe says Eat this, not that!“Vitamin D plays a role in regulating anti-inflammatory cells and immune cells that are involved in inflammation.”
Vitamin D also plays a role in regulating blood pressure and energy levels, as low vitamin D levels have been linked to fatigue, mood swings, and muscle weakness.
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How to get more vitamin D in your diet
Most adults don’t get enough vitamin D; a study 2018 revealed that 41.6% of adults in the United States are deficient in this essential vitamin, suggesting that many can benefit from being more mindful of their vitamin D intake. your body can make vitamin D through sun exposure, it’s also important to consume adequate levels of vitamin D through food and supplements.
If you are interested in increasing your vitamin D levels to help with chronic inflammation, then you may want to consider adding certain foods to your diet.
Feder notes, “One of the best ways to increase vitamin D through your diet is to increase the amount of fatty fish such as salmon and sardines.” On top of that, Feder says “you can also look for products that are fortified with vitamin D, like milk.”
Finally, if your diet isn’t enough, says Feder, “you can take a daily vitamin D supplement to boost your level.”
Of course, it’s always a good idea to consult your doctor or dietitian before making any major changes to your diet or starting supplements to make sure you’re doing what’s best for your body. They may recommend a blood test to determine if your vitamin D levels are in a safe range to begin with, because if they are, you may not experience the same anti-inflammatory benefits of vitamin D supplementation.
“We have repeatedly seen evidence of health benefits from increasing vitamin D concentrations in individuals with very low levels, while for others, there appears to be little or no benefit,” said lead researcher and director of the Australian Center for Precision Health. from UniSA, Professor Elina Hyppönen. she told ScienceDaily.
Desiree O
Desirée O is a freelance writer who covers lifestyle, food and nutrition news, among other topics. read more
