How Vitamin D Deficiency Destroys the Immune System

As more and more studies continue to confirm the link between healthy levels of Vitamin D3 and a strong immune system, a group of Danish scientists believe they may have pinpointed the exact reasons why this nutrient is so critical to the human immunodefence system.

The researchers claim their findings could be beneficial in protecting against new global epidemics and infectious diseases and could even aid in the development of new vaccines.

The study found that special cells known as "T-Cells", which are critical to immune defense, are dependent on the presence of Vitamin D in the bloodstream in order to function properly, and lay dormant unaware of the presence of a potential threat when there are insufficient amounts of Vitamin D in the blood.

"When a T cell is exposed to a foreign pathogen, it extends a signaling device or 'antenna' known as a Vitamin D receptor, with which it searches for Vitamin D," said Carsten Geisler of Copenhagen University's Department of International Health, Immunology and Microbiology, the scientist who spearheaded study.

Geisler added that when one is suffering from a vitamin D deficiency, the T-Cells "won't even begin to mobilize."

Vitamin D3 Deficiency can be countered and prevented by an individual exposing his or her skin to direct sunlight. The nutrient can also be obtained through certain foods such such as egg yolks, cod liver oil, fatty fish and cholecalciferol (the scientific name for Vitamin D3) supplements.

According to researchers, more than half of the world's population suffers from some degree of Vitamin D Deficiency, and many believe the problem is getting worse, not better.

Vitamin D Deficiency has already been linked scientifically to more than three dozen different diseases, illnesses and various health ailments.

These include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Breast Cancer


• Skin Cancer


• Prostate Cancer


• Heart Disease


• Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) and Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity (ADHD)


• Alzheimer's Disease


• Autism


• Multiple Sclerosis


• Childhood Allergies


• Parkinson's Disease


• Seasonal Depression (aka: "Winter Blues")


• AIDS (specifically the transformation of HIV to AIDS)


• Fibromyalgia


• Rickets


• Influenza (the Flu)


• H1N1 Flu (Swine Flu)


• Various Autoimmune Disorders


• Osteoporosis


• Lung Transplant Rejection


• Asthma


• Childhood Obesity


• Chronic Pain


• Tooth Loss


• Gingivitis and Gum Disease


• Type 2 Diabetes


• Arterial Stiffness


• Metabolic Syndrome (sometimes referred to as Insulin Resistance or Pre-Diabetes)


• Stroke


• High Blood Pressure (Hypertension)


• Chronic Fatigue Syndrome


• Lupus


• Psoriatic Arthritis

What is perhaps most disturbing is that the list continues to grow each and every year by several new illnesses and diseases.

The best way to reverse vitamin D deficiency is to sunbathe, with the more bare skin exposed to sunlight the better. Obviously, this is not always an option, particularly in the winter months. When sun exposure is not a viable option, vitamin D supplements are the way to go.

However, it is important to take note of which form of vitamin D is contained within a given supplement. Numerous studies have shown that the form of vitamin D known as D3, or cholecalciferol, is far superior to vitamin D2, the plant-based form known as ergocalciferol.

A recent report and "meta analysis" by Dr. John Cannell, MD, concluded that vitamin D3 offers three times the efficacy of D2 in terms of each respective nutrient's ability to prevent and/or reverse vitamin D deficiency syndrome, and hence enhance the immune system, protecting one against the myriad diseases listed above.