STOP everything! If You're Overweight, You Really NEED A Strategy!
Early in the pandemic, researchers noticed the overlap between populations that were at high risk of severe illness from COVID-19 and those likely to have vitamin D deficiency, in particular people who are overweight, elderly and those with darker skin.
Support your immune function with good nutrition. It is important to eat healthy food. This will help you not get sick.
Vitamin D helps regulate antimicrobial proteins that can directly kill pathogens. That's good for your body. It helps to make proteins that can kill germs.
The primary function of vitamin D is to help your body maintain optimal blood calcium levels. It helps keep the calcium in your blood at a healthy level. Vitamin D also has many other important functions, including regulation of your immune system.
The immune system helps our body fight off diseases. It helps us stay healthy and strong.
Vitamin D helps regulate antimicrobial proteins that can directly kill pathogens.
Sources include sunlight; fatty fish, like salmon; egg yolks; and fortified dairy.
Curcumin may be used to treat inflammation and aid the body's immune response.
Herbs can protect your body. They help to reduce inflammation or even stop it. Some herbs are Astragalus, Withania somnifera and Panax ginseng.
A recent article published in the Journal of Virology demonstrated that vitamin D3 strongly enhances the ability of macrophages to kill respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) within one day or less.
Before the pandemic, scientists had already hypothesized that vitamin D might play some role in immune responses to influenza viruses. They reasoned that because body fat tends to hold on to vitamin D, fat people have lower circulating levels of the so-called "sunshine" vitamin than leaner people. And if obesity made humans less susceptible to flu viruses, then wintertime flu infections might be more common in northern latitudes, where sun exposure was reduced.
Researchers also noted that the immune systems of people with darker skin are less efficient at maintaining sufficient levels of vitamin D compared to those with lighter skin—and this deficiency is even greater in the elderly. The studies done by researchers on COVID-19 and the role of vitamin D suggest that these observations may be well-founded.
Following research done by scientists on COVID-19, they found out that people with deficiencies in vitamin D were more likely to have severe illness from COVID-19. They also found out that some populations were at higher risk for having a deficiency in vitamin D which included people who are overweight, elderly and those with darker skin.
With this evidence it is very possible that vitamin D can play some role in immune responses to influenza viruses since body fat tends to hold on to vitamin D which then results in lower circulating levels of the sunshine vitamin. Thus obesity may make humans less susceptible to flu viruses which could be why wintertime flu infections may be more common in northern latitudes.
However, along with this evidence it is also possible that people who are overweight, elderly and those with darker skin were at higher risk for having a deficiency in vitamin D since obesity makes humans less susceptible to flu viruses just as how dark skinned people or the elderly might have a harder time to produce vitamin D from the sun.
The levels of circulating vitamin D in people around the world vary greatly depending on factors such as age, skin color and latitude (distance from the equator). The Institute of Medicine's Food and Nutrition Board recommends 600 International Units (IUs) per day for healthy adults between 18 and 70 years old and 800 IUs per day for seniors 71 and older. However, vitamin D researchers such as Neville Grant, M.D., director of medical research at Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska, believe that to ensure adequate levels of the vitamin in their bodies—and possibly fight off respiratory infections—people may need 1,000–2,000 IUs daily.
Researchers involved in the COVID-19 study found that among more than 1,100 sick adults who were tested for vitamin D levels, those with the lowest levels of circulating vitamin D had significantly higher risks of severe illness or death from COVID-19. The researchers also found an increased risk of disease severity in people with blood concentrations of vitamin D below 20 nanograms per milliliter (ng/mL), compared to those with higher concentrations. Blood concentrations of less than 10 ng/mL were associated with an eightfold increase in severe illness or death.
Researchers involved in the COVID-19 study found that among sick adults, those with the lowest levels of circulating vitamin D had significantly higher risks of severe illness or death from COVID-19.
The researchers also found an increased risk of disease severity in people with blood concentrations of vitamin D below 20 nanograms per milliliter (ng/mL), compared to those with higher concentrations. Blood concentrations of less than 10 ng/mL were associated with an eightfold increase in severe illness or death.
In a study done by the University of Minnesota, they found that the people who were at risk for having a deficiency in vitamin D included those who are overweight, elderly and those with darker skin compared to other groups of people. The research shows that obesity makes humans less susceptible to flu viruses which further supports how dark skinned people or the elderly may be at risk for having a deficiency in vitamin D since they tend to not be exposed to the sun as frequently.
This further validates how obesity makes humans less susceptible to flu viruses just as how dark skinned people or the elderly might have a harder time producing vitamin D from the sun.
- Vitamin D and the immune system
- Do you know how to prevent flu?
- Why obesity is a risk factor for having a deficiency in vitamin -D?
- How dark skinned people or the elderly tend to be at risk for having a deficiency in vitamin D?
- What are some factors that can influence how much vitamin D is produced in the body?
- What is the Institute of Medicine's Food and Nutrition Board recommendation for adults between 18 and 70 years old?
- How can studies like this help us better understand diseases such as COVID-19 infection, influenza, or other respiratory infections?
- What is the significance of studies such as this one in terms of vitamin D and future implications?
Research conducted on vitamin D has shown some positive effects on the immune system, so yes this is correct.
> Vitamin D boosts immune system by boosting its activity which can potentially help fight off infections.
> The strong immunity boost may be the reason why people who are overweight have a lower chance of developing COVID-19 infection.
Attention: Do you want to boost your immune system?
Interest: A study from the University of Copenhagen has found that people who are overweight have a lower chance of developing COVID-19 infection. The strong immunity boost may be the reason why.
Desire: This is great news for those with an active lifestyle and a healthy appetite, as it means they can enjoy their favorite foods without worrying about getting sick!
Action: Click this ad now and learn more about how Vit D can help you stay healthy!
Yes, they have a lower chance of developing COVID-19 infection because overweight people are generally healthier than those who are not.
***Obesity is a common, serious, and costly chronic disease. Having obesity puts people at risk for many other serious chronic diseases and increases the risk of severe illness from COVID-19. Everyone has a role to play in turning the tide against obesity and its disproportionate impact on racial and ethnic minority groups.
Chronic diseases—such as diabetes, cancer, and heart disease—are the leading causes of death and disability in the United States. In addition to causing a great deal of pain and lost productivity, chronic diseases also have an enormous impact on Medicare spending. For more than 25 years, Medicaid has been an important source of coverage for people with