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.
What are autoimmune diseases?
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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:
- Type 1 Diabetes
- Rheumatoid arthritis (RA)
- IBS (irritable bowel syndrome)
- Autoimmune thyroid disease
- Multiple sclerosis (MS)
- Psoriasis
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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Vitamin D and omega-3 fish oil may be the cure to stop autoimmune diseases
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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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To better evaluate whether vitamin D or omega-3 fish oil supplements are beneficial for people with autoimmune illness, clinical trials are required
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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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