Vitamin D can help stimulate adaptive immunity.
REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA – To keep the body’s immune system running normally, nutrition must be fulfilled. Not only carbohydrates, proteins and fats are needed, micronutrients, such as vitamins and minerals also play an important role in strengthening immunity.
Prof. Dr. Dr. Budi Setiabudiawan SpA (K) revealed, one of the vitamins that can increase children’s endurance is vitamin D. Function vitamin D classically is for bone growth, bone mineralization.
“In order for a child to be tall and grow, then there must be vitamin D,” said Budi, who is also a child immunology allergy expert.
On the other hand, vitamin D has an even greater function, namely non-classical functions. In addition to maintaining calcium, phosphorus, and bone mineralization homestasis, vitamin D can also modulate the natural and adaptive immune system.
“So in our body, there are two kinds of immune system, natural and adaptive. Vitamin D has a role to modulate both,” he explained. webinar Vitamin D3 Series: Protect Indonesian Children With Optimal Endurance which was observed in Jakarta, Thursday (7/23).
According to Budi, vitamin D can increase antibacterial responses in the natural immune system. So, if there are germs, bacteria, or viruses that enter the body, the first to fight is the natural immune system.
“So germs, bacteria, or viruses that enter can already be eliminated with the natural immune system,” explained Budi.
However, when there is already an infection that appears to be inflammation, the adaptive immune system starts working. Vitamin D has a role for adaptive immunity.
Vitamin D, according to Budi, acts as an anti-inflammatory, anti-inflammatory. Vitamin D can play a role in helping to prevent inflammation from getting worse.
“Vitamin D stimulates adaptive immunity, so inflammation will be reduced,” he explained.
Vitamin D, whose main source comes from exposure to ultraviolet B sunlight, will also affect the regulator T cell function. This is very important in allergic diseases, so that allergies do not arise.
“Even if they arise, the allergies will not get worse,” Budi said.
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