Vitamin D deficiency triggers autoimmune diseases – ANTARA News Bangka Belitung

Jakarta (ANTARA) – A study at McGill University in Montreal, Canada, explains why vitamin D deficiency early in life is associated with a higher risk of autoimmune disease.

The results of the research, published in the journal Science Advances, found that the thymus gland during childhood helps train immune cells to differentiate between the body’s own tissue and dangerous invaders. Vitamin D deficiency at this stage of life causes the thymus (immune gland) to age.

“An aging thymus causes a ‘leaky’ immune system,” said lead author John White, Professor and Chair of McGill’s Department of Physiology, as reported by Medical Xpress, Monday (10/21 ).

Professor White further explained, “This means that the thymus becomes less effective at filtering out immune cells that may mistakenly attack healthy tissue, thereby increasing the risk of infection.” autoimmune disease such as type 1 diabetes.”

He noted that researchers have known for years that vitamin D helps the body absorb calcium for strong bones, and that more recent research has found an important role has a role in regulating the immune system.

“Our findings shed new light on this relationship and may lead to new strategies to prevent autoimmune diseases,” he said.

Although the research was conducted in mice, the findings are relevant to human health because the thymus works in the same way in both sexes, said White.

These findings also highlight the importance of adequate vitamin D intake, especially for children.

“If you have young children, it’s important to consult with a health care provider to make sure they’re getting enough vitamins,” she advises.

This progress builds on a Finnish study in 2001, which followed more than 10,000 children.

It found that children who received vitamin D supplements early on had up to five times lower risk of developing type 1 diabetes later in life.

In the McGill study, researchers used mice that cannot produce vitamin D to study how the deficiency affects the thymus, using cell analysis and gene sequencing to see how it affects the immune system.

In future studies, Professor John White hopes to investigate how vitamin D affects the human thymus, something he says has never been done before.