Chronic Inflammation? You Could Be Low on Vitamin D

Inflammation is actually an essential part of the body’s healing process. However, when it persists, it can contribute to a wide range of complex diseases, including type 2 diabetes, heart disease and autoimmune diseases.

Now, the world’s first genetic research shows a direct link between low levels of vitamin D and high levels of inflammation. This finding provides an important biomarker to identify people at high risk or severity of chronic diseases with an inflammatory component.

The University of South Australia (UNISA) study examined genetic data from 294,970 participants in the UK Biobank. It uses Mendelian randomization to show a relationship between vitamin D and C-reactive protein levels, an indicator of inflammation.

There is a direct link between low levels of vitamin D and high levels of inflammation.

Dr Ang Zhou, lead researcher from Unisa, says the findings suggest that increasing vitamin D in people with a deficiency may reduce chronic inflammation.

“If you are injured or get an infection, inflammation is your body’s way of protecting your tissues,” says Dr. Zhou.

“High levels of C-reactive protein are produced by the liver in response to inflammation, so when your body is experiencing chronic inflammation, it also shows high levels of C-reactive protein.

“This study examined vitamin D and C-reactive protein and found a unilateral association between low levels of vitamin D and high levels of C-reactive protein, expressed as inflammation.

“Increasing vitamin D in people with deficiencies may reduce chronic inflammation, helping them avoid many related diseases.”

The study also raises the possibility that having adequate vitamin D concentrations may reduce complications arising from obesity and may reduce the risk or severity of chronic diseases with an inflammatory component, such as heart disease, diabetes. and autoimmune diseases. The research was supported by the National Council for Health and Medical Research and was published in International Journal of Epidemiology,

Professor Elina Hyponen, senior investigator and director of UNISA’s Australian Center for Precision Health, says these results are important and provide an explanation for some of the controversy over the alleged relationship with vitamin D.

“We have repeatedly seen evidence of health benefits for increasing vitamin D concentrations in individuals with very low levels, while for others, there is no benefit.” Prof Hyponon says.

“These findings highlight the importance of avoiding clinical vitamin D deficiency, and provide further evidence for the broader effects of hormonal vitamin D.”

Reference: “Vitamin D deficiency and C-reactive protein: a bidirectional Mendelian randomized study” by Ang Zhou and Elina Hyponen, 17 May 2022, International Journal of Epidemiology,
DOI: 10.1093/ije/dyac087