Experts have recently linked Vitamin D and omega- 3 fish oil supplements to the onset of autoimmune diseases. Vitamin D, in particular, was found to have a positive effect on the rate of autoimmune disease in people who took both supplements for five years. Supplements may interfere with preexisting health conditions, so it's important for consumers to seek medical advice before taking them.
Even if there is no risk of infection, the body still produces a spontaneous inflammatory immune response if it detects any autoimmune diseases. Autoimmune diseases are chronic, meaning that they are long-term health problems.
The following are a few examples of autoimmune diseases:
These days, autoimmune health conditions are the third most common category of disease and the main cause of mortality for women.
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There is no cure and only symptom management available for autoimmune diseases, and these diseases have significant societal implications. Many people suffering from autoimmune diseases cannot work for long periods of time. Many of these workers confront medical bills they can no longer afford because their ability to work is inhibited and disrupted.
However, according to some research, vitamin D and omega-3 fish oil can regulate genes associated with inflammation and innate immune responses. In animal trials, vitamin D was observed to inhibit the development or progression of autoimmune disorders. But in the case of human trials, the results were not so satisfactory. Meanwhile, a Danish study indicated that each 30-gram (g) increase in daily fatty fish intake cut RA risk by 49 percent.
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In a placebo-controlled investigation by researchers from Boston in the United States, it was discovered that taking vitamin D supplements decreased the risk of acquiring autoimmune illness by 22%. Although these results were not statistically significant, omega-3 fatty acid supplementation accounted for a 15% decrease in the risk of autoimmune illness.
Lead author Karen Harte Costenbader, MD of Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, says, "Autoimmune diseases are a group of over 80 different related diseases and their prevalence and health impact increase with age. This is the first direct evidence that we can do something to prevent them in older adults."
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Researchers of the study wrote that- "The clinical importance of these findings is high because these are well-tolerated, nontoxic supplements, and other effective treatments to reduce the incidence of autoimmune diseases are lacking. Additionally, we saw consistent results across autoimmune diseases and increasing effects with time. We are continuing to follow participants for 2 years in an extension study to test the time course of this autoimmune disease reduction effect. Further trials could test these interventions in younger populations and those with high autoimmune disease risk". The research was published in the BMJ.
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To conduct the Vitamin D and Omega-3 Fish Oil trials, the scientists recruited 25,871 volunteers from all over the USA. 51% of the participants were women over the age of 55, while the remaining participants were men over 50. Every participant was told to keep their vitamin D intake from outside sources to no more than 800 international units (IU) per day and avoid taking fish oil supplements if they had a history of cancer, cardiovascular disease, or renal failure.
Participants were then divided into two treatment groups at random. Vitamin D (2,000 IU) and fish oil (a 1-g tablet) were given to the subjects every day, along with a placebo. Soybean oil or olive oil were used in the placebos. Participants' vitamin D and omega-3 fatty acid levels were measured using blood samples drawn at the start of the study and periodically throughout the course of it.
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Around 81% consumed at least two-thirds of their supplements by the time the research was completed. Those taking vitamin D saw a 40% increase in 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels over the course of a year. However, in the placebo group, there were minor changes.
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People who took omega-3 supplements had 54.7% more omega-3 in their blood, while those who took placebos had only 2% more omega-3 in their blood. The group that consumed vitamin D supplements was found to be at a lower risk of autoimmune disease development by 22% compared to the vitamin D placebo group, regardless of whether both groups were also taking fish oil. When vitamin D and omega-3 fish oil were compared to a placebo, the researchers discovered a 30% reduction in the chance of getting an autoimmune disease when the supplements were taken combined.
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According to the study's authors, their findings could be explained by many biological mechanisms. Doctor Costenbader explained that "activated vitamin D enters the nucleus and binds the vitamin D receptor, regulating a large array of vitamin D-responsive genes, many of which are involved in both innate and adaptive immune system function. There are many well-known immunomodulatory actions of vitamin D, including potentially beneficial effects on B and T lymphocytes, macrophages, monocytes, dendritic cells, etc."
She added- "Similarly for marine omega-3 fatty acids (fish oils), there are many well-known anti-inflammatory and 'pro-resolving' mechanisms, including downregulation of inflammatory mediators, such as prostaglandins and leukotrienes, and upregulation of 'specialize[d] pro-resolving mediators,' including the resolvins, protectins, maresins, and lipoxins, that act to 'mop up' after inflammation and definitely could be responsible for reducing new-onset autoimmune disease."
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A few limitations were pointed out in the research. They suggest that their findings may not apply to younger people because they conducted most of their research on older people. Dr. Costenbader went on to say, "We studied only one dose and formulation of each supplement, so we cannot address other doses or formulations. We [also] do not yet know about effectiveness among people at especially high risk by virtue of family history or early signs and symptoms."
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Inflammation is reduced, the heart is healthier, and the brain is healthier when omega-3 fatty acids are consumed, among other things. Polyunsaturated fats, often known as "good fats," have been hailed for their potential to protect against several chronic diseases, including heart disease and dementia. Cell membranes rely heavily on them, and they remain a hot topic in the scientific community. The omega-3 fatty acid consists of:
Humans cannot produce omega-3 fatty acids, so these fatty acids must come from food or supplements. Similarly, even if the human body can produce vitamin D, it requires sunlight and foods rich in this vital nutrient. In both cases, consuming vitamin D and omega-3 fish oil supplements will be beneficial.
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