St. Louis Park Chiropractor Best Practices
Research Commentary;
Boost Immune Function with Vitamin D
A review of
Hornsby E, Pfeffer PE, Laranjo N, Cruikshank W, Tuzova M, Litonjua AA, Weiss ST, Carey VJ, O’Connor G, Hawrylowicz C. Vitamin D supplementation during pregnancy: Effect on the neonatal immune system in a randomized controlled trial. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2018 Jan;141(1):269-278.e1. doi: 10.1016/j.jaci.2017.02.039. Epub 2017 May 26. PMID: 28552588.
By Dr. Erik Waldeland
Summarized Review Conclusions
Vitamin D has grown in popularity recently after research that revealed the benefits of sufficient Vitamin D levels and its positive effects on COVID 19 symptoms. The attached research examined the effects of Vitamin D during pregnancy, and the benefits that may be present for the newborn in boosting immune function. This randomized control trial found Vitamin D exposure during fetal development influences the immune system of the neonate, which can contribute to protection from asthma-related, including infectious, outcomes in early life. Below are some of the key findings from the research.
“Programming of the immune system during fetal development can influence asthma-related risk factors and outcomes in later life. Vitamin D is a well-recognized immune modulator, and deficiency of this nutrient during pregnancy is hypothesized to influence disease development in offspring
“Supplementation of mothers with 4400 IU of vitamin D3 resulted in an enhanced broad-spectrum proinflammatory cytokine response of cord blood mononuclear cells to innate and mitogenic stimuli (P = .0009), with an average 1.7- to 2.1-fold increase in levels of several proinflammatory cytokines
“Maternal vitamin D deficiency during pregnancy has also been proposed to be a risk factor for development of childhood asthma and the associated risk factors of allergy and infection”
Introduction to the Research
There is growing evidence of the benefits of Vitamin D in humans, but the benefits for infants and newborns have been less studied. This randomized control trial examined the effects of Vitamin D supplementation and its effects on asthma and asthma related diseases.
Research Methodology
Cord blood samples from neonates born to mothers supplemented with 4400 IU/d (n = 26) or 400 IU/d (n = 25) of vitamin D3 were analyzed for immune cell composition by flow cytometry, Toll-like receptor (TLR) expression by quantitative PCR, and cytokine secretion after stimulation with mitogenic, TLR, and T-cell stimuli by cytometric bead array. Responsiveness to the glucocorticoid dexamethasone was determined.
Research Findings
Supplementation of mothers with 4400 IU of vitamin D3 resulted in an enhanced broad-spectrum proinflammatory cytokine response of cord blood mononuclear cells to innate and mitogenic stimuli (P = .0009), with an average 1.7- to 2.1-fold increase in levels of several proinflammatory cytokines (GM-CSF, IFN-γ, IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-8) across stimuli, a higher gene expression level of TLR2 (P = .02) and TLR9 (P = .02), a greater than 4-fold increase in IL-17A (P = .03) production after polyclonal T-cell stimulation, and an enhanced IL-10 response of cord blood mononuclear cells to dexamethasone treatment in culture
Research References
As always with these reviews, these are my takeaways from the article and I encourage you to read the article in its entirety. The references used in this article by the authors of this article are listed here.
Our Message
We love to help our patients in St. Louis Park stay healthy. We are here to relieve mid back pain, low back pain, neck pain and headaches while also teaching about how our diet and stress effects our over all health. Taking care of your mental health is just as important as the chiropractic adjustment and getting the proper nutrients to stay healthy. Our Doctors, near the corner of MN-100 S & Lake Rd./Westside Dr., want to help you stay healthy and out of pain!