Summary: One of the new studies shows that vitamin D deficiency in early years may significantly increase the risk of autoimmune diseases later in life. It appears that this results due to faster aging of the thymus gland.
Researchers have always suspected the role of vitamin D deficiency in autoimmune disorders. Moreover, many epidemiological studies have suggested that this theory is supported since autoimmune conditions are more common in those living with vitamin D deficiency. However, one of the new studies found that vitamin D deficiency in early life may increase the lifelong risk of autoimmune conditions.
Moreover, this study is different in that it could even identify how vitamin D deficiency in early life results in a greater risk of autoimmune conditions later in life.
Vitamin D has a widespread role in the human body. In fact, science has still not fully understood its complete role in health and wellbeing. It is known that vitamin D is needed for bone health, the immune system, sex hormone production, and much more. Its deficiency is associated with an increased risk of numerous health conditions and even metabolic disorders. Consulting a chronic pain specialist may also help understand the broader health implications of vitamin D deficiency, including its effects on chronic conditions.
Previous studies have shown that vitamin D deficiency is associated with an increased risk of almost all autoimmune conditions like psoriasis, type 1 diabetes, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and more.
Further, it is also well-established that many autoimmune conditions are first diagnosed early on. Thus, for example, type 1 diabetes was previously also called juvenile diabetes. The same is true for many other autoimmune disorders.
This is because certain health conditions, infections, exposure to toxins, and nutritional deficiencies may have lifelong effects on the immune system. The immune system undergoes training during the early years of life when it learns to differentiate between the body’s own tissues and threats. Moreover, during the early years, the immune system learns not to launch hyper-response.
This new study was carried out by McGill University in Canada. In the study, researchers looked at the genetically modified mice that were engineered not to produce vitamin D.
The study found that vitamin D deficiency during early years causes faster aging of the thymus gland, resulting in a greater risk of autoimmune conditions.
The thymus gland plays a vital role in immunity, especially in controlling immune responses and maintaining a healthy population of white blood cells. It plays an important role in educating white blood cells to avoid attacking healthy body tissues.
Researchers found that vitamin D deficiency in early life results in faster aging of the thymus gland and contraction in its size. Thus, its role in immune regulation is compromised. They say this results in something called “leaky immune system,” a condition when poorly trained immune cells start making their way into the system and even start attacking healthy body tissues.
This is one of the first studies to identify this mechanism, thus confirming that vitamin D deficiency during early years may considerably increase the risk of autoimmune disorders.
Of course, this study was done on mice models. However, there is a sound reason to believe that these findings are applicable to humans since the thymus gland works more or less similarly in mice and humans. For those looking to explore advanced treatment options for autoimmune disorders, interventional pain management in St. Louis may offer effective strategies to manage associated symptoms.
Vitamin D supplementation during early life has been controversial, as it was not known if this can help reduce the risk of certain ailments later in life. However, this study now confirms that low vitamin D status at a young age may impair the immune system, increasing the risk of autoimmune conditions.
Source:
Artusa, P., Yamamoto, L. N., Barbier, C., Valbon, S. F., Habashi, Y. A., Djambazian, H., Ismailova, A., Lebel, M.-È., Salehi-Tabar, R., Sarmadi, F., Ragoussis, J., Goltzman, D., Melichar, H. J., & White, J. H. (2024). Skewed epithelial cell differentiation and premature aging of the thymus in the absence of vitamin D signaling. Science Advances. https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.adm9582
