JAKARTA - Have you ever felt it was easier to get flu, colds, or even re-infected with COVID-19, while people around you rarely get sick? This condition can be related to low levels of vitamin D which plays a major role in maintaining immunity.
This nutrient is known to have a crucial function for health, ranging from bone formation to supporting the immune system to work optimally. If the intake is not met, the body can be more vulnerable to various infectious diseases.
The need for nutrients such as vitamin D can actually be obtained from food, exposure to sunlight, and supplements. However, in practice, these natural sources often fail to optimally meet daily needs.
"We know that vitamin D plays a very important role in controlling both adaptive and innate immune systems," said Dr. Michael Holick, professor of medicine, pharmacology, physiology, molecular biology at Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, as quoted by HuffPost.
A similar view was expressed by Diane Stadler, director of the human nutrition graduate program at Oregon Health & Science University. He said various studies have shown a strong relationship between low levels of this vitamin in the blood and an increased risk of respiratory diseases.
"There is a lot of evidence or studies that link vitamin D deficiency, or low blood levels of vitamin D, with an increased risk of respiratory diseases and various types of bacterial infections," said Stadler.
Even so, Stadler emphasized that nutritional deficiencies are not the direct cause of someone falling ill. Diseases generally arise due to a weakened immune system response.
"Vitamin D works in several ways to increase the immune response. If the levels are insufficient, the immune system will not work effectively in fighting bacterial and viral infections, especially in cold weather," he explained.
When these nutrient levels are inadequate, the body becomes less efficient in fighting off disease threats such as flu and COVID-19. Research conducted by Holick at Boston University found that people with low levels have a higher risk of death and complications from COVID-19.
Other studies have also shown that individuals with similar conditions have a 54 percent higher risk of contracting COVID-19 than those whose vitamin levels are within normal limits.
These findings reinforce the importance of maintaining this nutritional adequacy as part of efforts to maintain immunity, especially when the risk of infectious diseases increases.
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