Is Vitamin D Good For Your Immune System?

Vitamin D is one we all know—it’s the ‘sunshine vitamin’, and it’s pretty much the superstar of the vitamin world. And without sufficient amounts in your diet—whether from the sun, food, or supplements—chances are you’re not going to feel so bright.

If there’s one place where vitamin D really shines (no pun intended), it’s in the immune system.

So, if you’ve ever thought vitamin C was the staple for immune function, it’s time that it takes a backseat because there’s a new driver in town.

We’re talking all things vitamin D and the immune system and giving you a BIG green light that, yes, vitamin D is good for the immune system. Actually, it’s better than good.

Let’s get to it.

What Is Vitamin D?

Vitamin D is a nutrient that belongs to the group of fat-soluble vitamins, meaning it requires the presence of dietary fat to be absorbed from food and supplements.

More than 1 billion people worldwide suffer from vitamin D deficiency, which increases susceptibility to all sorts of chronic health issues given that vitamin D has an essential role in bone health, immune function, digestion, the circulatory system, mood, muscle function, and the nervous system ¹.

But when it comes to the immune system, vitamin D plays a particularly large role—and we’re going to dissect that more below.

Why You Need Vitamin D

Before we dive into why vitamin D is essential for immune function, let’s look at what else vitamin D plays a role in. With more than 1000 target genes, you know it carries a big footprint.

1. Bone health—One of the most prominent functions of vitamin D is in bone health. Because of its role in regulating calcium and phosphate levels via parathyroid hormone (PTH), it helps control the absorption of calcium and phosphate from the gut, thus keeping the bones healthy and strong ². Conversely, when vitamin D levels aren’t up to par and calcium isn’t being absorbed, the body leaches calcium from the bones to increase serum levels, which ultimately weakens bones and increases the risk of fractures and osteoporosis.
2. Mood—Have you ever noticed that when the weather is crappy, you don’t feel so hot? Your mood tends to take a nosedive, and you’re just feeling a bit blue… That’s the link between the sun (vitamin D) and your mood. Vitamin D plays a major regulatory role, along with omega-3 fatty acids, in the synthesis of serotonin, the ‘happy hormone’ ³. Brain serotonin is synthesized from the amino acid tryptophan by an enzyme called tryptophan hydroxylase 2, activated by vitamin D. Lack of vitamin D means low levels of serotonin and resulting mood imbalances.
3. Inflammation—It’s also been shown that adequate vitamin D is needed for regulating levels of inflammation. It plays a key role in modulating the immune system and inflammatory response via regulating the production of inflammatory cytokines and inhibiting the proliferation of pro-inflammatory cells ⁴.

And the last critical piece of this puzzle is the role of vitamin D in the immune system.

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Vitamin D And The Immune System

Where the immune system is concerned, vitamin D plays a heavy role and is non-negotiable.

Both the adaptive (long-term, acquired) and innate (immediate) immune system responses are affected by vitamin D3 and its receptor, and the cells involved in the immune response express not just the vitamin D receptor (VDR), but most of them also express the enzyme CYP27B1, which produces vitamin D3 ⁵.

Based on this, you can understand why vitamin D has such an essential role in supporting immune function. Without them, both levels of your immune system are compromised.

That’s because studies find that vitamin D enhances the effects of monocytes and macrophages ⁶—white blood cells that are critical to your immune defenses, along with decreasing inflammation to help promote a healthier immune response.

Studies also find that low vitamin D levels are implicated in the development of autoimmune conditions like MS, rheumatoid arthritis, and diabetes ⁷.

The reason why is because vitamin D3 suppresses most aspects of the adaptive (acquired) immune system while upregulating elements of the innate immune system.

As such, it could help to protect against various autoimmune diseases by enhancing the first line of defense against invading pathogens ⁵.

But there’s more.

Vitamin D deficiency is known to cause what’s called the “cytokine storm” ⁸. Cytokines are immune proteins that play a major role as pro and anti-inflammatory molecules and help protect against infection and disease ⁹.

But under certain circumstances, cytokines can also trigger tissue damage. This happens when there is an uncontrollable release of pro-inflammatory cytokines in response to infection, but this dysregulation and excessive release of cytokines can cause damage to tissues and exacerbate disease states ¹⁰.

Long story short, vitamin D plays a major role in every single aspect of immune health, and ensuring you have adequate levels is key to protecting your body from every angle.

Where To Find It

When it comes to supporting the immune system, it’s probably not enough to rely on vitamin D from food sources or the sun.

Because geography and physiological factors influence how much vitamin D your body makes from the sun and dietary restrictions and growing conditions affect the concentrations in food, you may be getting less than you think.

In that case, supplementing with one of the most powerful immune-boosting supplements on the market can help to power up your immune system and keep it running in high gear year-round.

Immune challenges can be unpredictable, and sometimes our systems become over-burdened and weaken because of nutrient shortfalls, stress, toxins, and over-training.

Performance Lab® PL-Immune™ is one supplement designed to address and support these immune concerns. It restores weakened defenses first, then activates immune cells to help them coordinate, multiply, and perform.

Whether it’s flu season or exhaustion from training, PL-Immune™ supplies broad-range support to help your immune system to fight, adapt, and evolve to best defend you.

And for all-around nutritional support, Performance Lab NutriGenesis Multi has you covered.

It’s your daily dose of 17+ essential vitamins and minerals to restore nutrient levels, support hormones, and provide foundational nutritional support for healthy whole-body biological performance.

Key Takeaways

Vitamin D takes the crown in keeping your body healthy and functioning at peak performance. Whether it’s nerve health, brain health, muscle function, or mood, negating the importance of this guy is not an option.

But when it comes to immune health, it’s a staple in any of the best immune support formulas. It supports both your innate and adaptive immune systems to defend you against pathogens immediately and promote long-term recognition.