Is your child at risk this winter? Study shows shocking danger of Vitamin D deficiency | Health

Winter It’s getting closer, the days are getting shorter and with it comes a serious health hazard. Faded sunlight is not sufficient for vitamin D production, causing seasonal deficiency. a study to work Research published in the journal Science Advances from McGill University found that this seasonal deficiency vitamin D It can have important and long-term consequences, especially for children.

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Risks of Vitamin D deficiency

Vitamin D has an important role in development and functioning. immune system. Thymus is a gland affected by vitamin D deficiency. The gland prepares and trains immune cells to detect and fight harmful invaders or pathogens in the body. Vitamin D deficiency, especially in children, causes premature aging of this gland. This results in a ‘leaky’ immune system. This is a very serious condition that causes immune cells to mistakenly attack healthy tissues, leading to autoimmune diseases such as Type 1 diabetes.

This study is based on findings from a study conducted in 2001. FinlandHe discovered that the risk of developing vitamin D was reduced by up to fivefold in children who received vitamin D supplements early in life. type 1 diabetes Later.

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More about the research

To better understand the issue, principal investigator Professor John White and his team carried out detailed experiments on genetically modified mice with vitamin D deficiency. Studies on mice showed significant effects on the thymus and immune systems of these mice. He established a connection between vitamin D and immunity. The possibility of reflection in humans is also quite high. Although the experiment was conducted on mice, the similarity of thymus functions between species indicates that the findings are also relevant to human health.

This further highlights the role of vitamin D in the bigger picture of human health. Previously, researchers have found the importance of vitamin D in supporting bone health. But this study shows that it is also important for immune regulation. Researchers found this promising as it could open new doors in the treatment of autoimmune diseases.

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