Submitted by Aspergillus Administrator on 29 May 2013
Researchers have found that vitamin D, which is made by the body when in sunlight, can have a positive impact on the illness.
The latest research has show that vitamin D calms an over-active part of the immune system in asthma. Interleukin-17 is a chemical within the body that helps fight off infections. When levels of this chemical get too high it can cause problems which have been strongly implicated in asthma. The research team were able to lower levels of interleukin-17 when vitamin D was added to blood samples taken from 18 patients.
Clinical trials are now being conducted to see if by giving patients vitamin D result in easing their symptoms, focusing on those who don’t respond to steroid treatment as they produce seven times more interleukin-17 than other patients.
If proof in this theory is found, there must be a careful message to asthma sufferers because too much sun is bad for you. It would be dangerous to stop applying sun cream when exposed to the sun.
This new evidence would have a large impact on the quality of life on those who suffer with asthma and current treatments have little effect.
News archives
-
Title
Date
