{"id":26067,"date":"2024-04-22T07:30:46","date_gmt":"2024-04-22T11:30:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/?p=26067"},"modified":"2024-04-24T09:13:55","modified_gmt":"2024-04-24T13:13:55","slug":"immune-system-vitamin-d","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/index.php\/immune-system-vitamin-d\/","title":{"rendered":"How the Immune System Relies on Vitamin D"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><em>From GrassrootsHealth<\/em><\/p>\n<h4>What is Vitamin D Good For? (Part 9: Immune Health) \u2013 Vitamin D is needed by virtually every cell in the body, and is essential for hundreds of processes each and every day<\/h4>\n<p><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-6102\" src=\"https:\/\/www.grassrootshealth.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/immune-system-cartoon-300x204.jpg\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.grassrootshealth.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/immune-system-cartoon-300x204.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.grassrootshealth.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/immune-system-cartoon-768x522.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.grassrootshealth.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/immune-system-cartoon-1024x696.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.grassrootshealth.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/immune-system-cartoon-260x177.jpg 260w\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"204\" \/> As part of our\u00a0<em>What is Vitamin D Good For?<\/em>\u00a0series, this post will attempt to summarize those roles to clearly show how the immune system relies on vitamin D to function properly. Because vitamin D acts as a protector and regulator of all cell types, tissues, and organs, it is required for the proper functioning of each system of the body to help keep us healthy. This is especially true for our immune system, since vitamin D has specific regulatory effects on immune cells and inflammation.<\/p>\n<p>So far, we have covered how vitamin D contributes to the health of the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.grassrootshealth.net\/blog\/vitamin-d-bones-muscles\/\">musculoskeletal system<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.grassrootshealth.net\/blog\/vitamin-d-benefit-skin\/\">dermatological system<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.grassrootshealth.net\/blog\/reproductive-health-depends-healthy-vitamin-d-levels\/\">reproductive system<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.grassrootshealth.net\/blog\/vitamin-d-vital-maintaining-healthy-lungs-respiratory-system-function\/\">respiratory system<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.grassrootshealth.net\/blog\/vitamin-d-benefits-heart-cardiovascular-system\/\">cardiovascular system<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.grassrootshealth.net\/blog\/relationship-vitamin-d-sunlight-digestive-system\/\">digestive system<\/a>, and to\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.grassrootshealth.net\/blog\/roles-vitamin-d-cancer-prevention\/\">cancer prevention<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.grassrootshealth.net\/blog\/need-vitamin-d-mental-emotional-wellness\/\">cognitive and mental-emotional wellness<\/a>. A deficit in vitamin D can lead to impairment or disease in each of these systems \u2013 from brittle bones to heart disease, cancer and dementia. With this in mind, why take a chance at being deficient in vitamin D?<\/p>\n<h3>Summary of Overall Benefits of Vitamin D for Immune Health<\/h3>\n<p><strong>Vitamin D functions in the immune system to:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Regulate the activity of many immune cells including\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.grassrootshealth.net\/blog\/immune-system-protects-infection-part-2-phagocytes\/\">macrophages and monocytes<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.grassrootshealth.net\/blog\/immune-system-protects-infection-part-3-b-cells-antibodies\/\">B-cells<\/a>, and\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.grassrootshealth.net\/blog\/immune-system-protects-infection-part-4-t-lymphocytes\/\">T-cells<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Supports the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.grassrootshealth.net\/blog\/vitamin-d-helps-fight-covid-19-part-1\/\">innate and acquired immune system<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Helps\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.grassrootshealth.net\/blog\/vitamin-d3-creates-profound-anti-inflammatory-effects\/\">regulate inflammation<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.grassrootshealth.net\/blog\/allergy-symptoms-significantly-lower-vitamin-d\/\">allergies<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.grassrootshealth.net\/blog\/controlling-asthma-daily-high-dose-vitamin-d\/\">asthma<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Increases the presence and actions of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.grassrootshealth.net\/blog\/immune-system-protects-infection-part-2-phagocytes\/\">anti-microbial peptides<\/a>\u00a0(cathelicidins and defensins) which act to disrupt microbial membranes, reduce viral replication, and\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.grassrootshealth.net\/blog\/vitamin-d-helps-fight-covid-19-part-2\/\">inhibit the cytokine storm<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.grassrootshealth.net\/blog\/scientists-call-daction-today-immune-cells-rely-vitamin-d\/\">Increases white blood cells<\/a>\u00a0to fight infection<\/li>\n<li>Regulates immune system activity through modulating the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.grassrootshealth.net\/blog\/vitamin-d-supplementation-amount-influences-change-genetic-expression\/\">expression of immune regulating genes<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Increases the expression of antioxidant defenses<\/li>\n<li>Increases the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.grassrootshealth.net\/blog\/vitamin-d-heals-gut-improves-ibs\/\">biodiversity of the gut microbiome<\/a>, which has been shown to have protective effects against inflammation and respiratory tract infections<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Immune-response diseases associated with low vitamin D<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Vitamin D insufficiency has been associated with increased susceptibility to all types of infections. Vitamin D intake and blood levels have potential effects on disease risk, severity, and mortality. Infections that have been associated with low vitamin D levels include:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.grassrootshealth.net\/blog\/lower-tuberculosis-risk-higher-vitamin-d-levels\/\">Tuberculosis<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.grassrootshealth.net\/vitamin-d-supplements-reduce-risk-influenza-covid-19-infection-death\/\">Influenza<\/a><\/li>\n<li>The\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.grassrootshealth.net\/blog\/vitamin-d-status-effect-colds-flu-among-grassrootshealth-participants\/\">\u201cCommon Cold\u201d<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Leukemia<\/li>\n<li>Multiple Myeloma<\/li>\n<li>Urinary tract infections<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.grassrootshealth.net\/blog\/allergy-symptoms-significantly-lower-vitamin-d\/\">Allergies<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.grassrootshealth.net\/blog\/controlling-asthma-daily-high-dose-vitamin-d\/\">Asthma<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.grassrootshealth.net\/blog\/70-lower-risk-acute-respiratory-tract-infections-vitamin-d-supplementation\/\">Respiratory tract infections<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Bacterial vaginosis<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.grassrootshealth.net\/blog\/review-vitamin-d-immune-health\/\">COVID-19<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>What is Your Immune System?<\/h3>\n<p>Being exposed to viruses, bacteria, and toxins is a part of a normal day. They are in the air we breathe, the food we eat, in the water we drink and on surfaces we touch. Your immune system has been training since you were born to protect you from the \u201cpathogens\u201d that cause infection or disease. But sometimes, infection takes hold and your immune system has to fight off those pathogens. What you may not realize is that\u00a0<strong>the nutrients in your diet directly influence the ability of your immune system to function<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>There are two main immune reactions. The innate immune system works to stop the initial invasion of pathogens. It is the body\u2019s first line of defense, and includes barriers such as our skin, mucous membranes, stomach acid, and microbiota, as well as the generalized inflammatory response. It is a quicker response that does not differentiate between pathogens \u2013 it just identifies that there is a problem, and works to eliminate it.<\/p>\n<p>The adaptive immune reaction involves a more complicated, strategized set of actions to identify which pathogen has invaded and then create immune cells specifically designed to destroy that pathogen; a process that can take days to weeks \u2013 as is often the case with viral infections. The adaptive immune response can also use antigens to \u201cremember\u201d that specific pathogen which makes future responses more efficient.<\/p>\n<h3>Vitamin D Regulates Immune Cells and the Immune Response<\/h3>\n<p>Vitamin D plays a crucial role in regulating immune system activity \u2013 both innate and adaptive responses. The\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.grassrootshealth.net\/blog\/immune-system-protects-infections\/\">innate immune system is responsible for the initial defensive front<\/a>\u00a0with a\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.grassrootshealth.net\/blog\/immune-system-protects-infection-part-2-phagocytes\/\">central role played by phagocytes<\/a>. Vitamin D stimulates expansion of these phagocytes (monocytes and macrophages), increasing their ability to fight off the virus by increasing their numbers, as well as increasing their killing capacity through stimulating the production of the anti-viral and anti-microbial protein cathelicidin. Vitamin D also acts to regulate the maturation of dendritic cells which are important for activating CD4+ T cells and in turn the rest of the immune response (see more below).<\/p>\n<p>Vitamin D is a potent regulator of both\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.grassrootshealth.net\/blog\/immune-system-protects-infection-part-4-t-lymphocytes\/\">cell-mediated (T cell)<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.grassrootshealth.net\/blog\/immune-system-protects-infection-part-3-b-cells-antibodies\/\">humoral (B cell) immunity<\/a>. This is a vital part of the body\u2019s defense against pathogenic invader, allowing white blood cells to recognize, bind to, and destroy pathogens \u2013 a process that relies on vitamin D to function properly.<\/p>\n<p>The diagram below outlines many specific ways vitamin D affects different immune cells of both the innate and adaptive immune response.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-6100 ls-is-cached lazyloaded\" src=\"http:\/\/www.grassrootshealth.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/vitamin-d-actions-on-immune-cells.jpg\" sizes=\"(max-width: 650px) 100vw, 650px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.grassrootshealth.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/vitamin-d-actions-on-immune-cells.jpg 1042w, https:\/\/www.grassrootshealth.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/vitamin-d-actions-on-immune-cells-300x147.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.grassrootshealth.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/vitamin-d-actions-on-immune-cells-768x377.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.grassrootshealth.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/vitamin-d-actions-on-immune-cells-1024x503.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.grassrootshealth.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/vitamin-d-actions-on-immune-cells-260x128.jpg 260w\" alt=\"\" width=\"650\" height=\"319\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.grassrootshealth.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/vitamin-d-actions-on-immune-cells.jpg 1042w, https:\/\/www.grassrootshealth.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/vitamin-d-actions-on-immune-cells-300x147.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.grassrootshealth.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/vitamin-d-actions-on-immune-cells-768x377.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.grassrootshealth.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/vitamin-d-actions-on-immune-cells-1024x503.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.grassrootshealth.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/vitamin-d-actions-on-immune-cells-260x128.jpg 260w\" data-src=\"http:\/\/www.grassrootshealth.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/vitamin-d-actions-on-immune-cells.jpg\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 650px) 100vw, 650px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Charoenngam et al.,\u00a0<em>Endocrine Practice<\/em>, 2021.<\/p>\n<h3>Vitamin D Activates T-cells to Identify and Destroy Pathogens<\/h3>\n<p>Vitamin D is especially critical to the activation and modulation of T cells, which help identify and destroy pathogens. In this step, vitamin D becomes an essential component to how well the immune system responds to infection. T cells are able to directly and indirectly kill infected cells, depending on which type of T cell it is. There are several types of T cells that are important to a viral immune response, including helper T Cells (CD4+ T Cells) that help identify and direct the immune response, cytotoxic T cells (CD8 T Cells) that bind to and kill infected cells, and memory T cells that remember the pathogen and how to defeat it. Important to their function are the T cell receptors, which must be activated in order for the T cells to bind to the infected cells. Helper T cells also release specific proteins called cytokines (such as interleukin) in order to orchestrate the binding and activation of the T cells, ultimately causing the destruction of the infected cells.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-4469 lazyloaded\" src=\"http:\/\/www.grassrootshealth.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/immune-response-diagram.jpg\" sizes=\"(max-width: 650px) 100vw, 650px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.grassrootshealth.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/immune-response-diagram.jpg 2416w, https:\/\/www.grassrootshealth.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/immune-response-diagram-300x257.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.grassrootshealth.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/immune-response-diagram-768x657.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.grassrootshealth.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/immune-response-diagram-1024x877.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.grassrootshealth.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/immune-response-diagram-260x223.jpg 260w\" alt=\"\" width=\"650\" height=\"556\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.grassrootshealth.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/immune-response-diagram.jpg 2416w, https:\/\/www.grassrootshealth.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/immune-response-diagram-300x257.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.grassrootshealth.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/immune-response-diagram-768x657.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.grassrootshealth.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/immune-response-diagram-1024x877.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.grassrootshealth.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/immune-response-diagram-260x223.jpg 260w\" data-src=\"http:\/\/www.grassrootshealth.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/immune-response-diagram.jpg\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 650px) 100vw, 650px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong>Without sufficient vitamin D, these T cells are unable to become \u2018activated\u2019 and the immune system is more likely to become dysregulated, leading to increased inflammation and decreased efficiency of recovery.<\/strong><\/p>\n<h3>Vitamin D Regulates Cytokines and Inflammation<\/h3>\n<p>Vitamin D acts to regulate T cell response through initiating dendritic cell tolerance. These dendritic cells in turn stimulate the increased production of T regulatory (Treg) cells and their production of anti-inflammatory interleukin (IL)-10, switching the response from being Th1-driven and pro-inflammatory to a Th2-driven anti-inflammatory response.<\/p>\n<p>Vitamin D acts to suppress the production of inflammatory cytokines (such as IL-1, IL-6 and IFN which are predominant in the cytokine storm characteristic of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.grassrootshealth.net\/blog\/demonstrated-effectiveness-vitamin-d-covid-19\/\">severe COVID-19<\/a>). Vitamin D also has an effect on the actions of B-cells and inhibits the production of antibodies. Overall, the immunomodulatory actions of vitamin D play a very important role in preventing the activation of an inappropriate hyper-inflammatory immune response, therefore preventing the now infamous cytokine storm.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><i>SmartTan.com news articles regularly report medical and scientific information to keep you abreast of current events related to UV light. This information is not intended to be used by any party to make unwarranted health claims to promote sunbed usage. Indoor tanning businesses are obligated to communicate a fair and balanced message to all clients about your products and services including the potential risks associated with indoor tanning. Contact your Smart Tan representative to find out more about what you can and can\u2019t say in your tanning salon business.<\/i><\/p>\n<p><i>\u00a9 2024 International Smart Tan Network. All rights reserved.<\/i><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>From GrassrootsHealth What is Vitamin D Good For? (Part 9: Immune Health) \u2013 Vitamin D is needed by virtually every cell in the body, and is essential for hundreds of processes each and every day As part of our\u00a0What is Vitamin D Good For?\u00a0series, this post will attempt to summarize those roles to clearly show [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":23402,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-26067","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.2 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>How the Immune System Relies on Vitamin D - Smart Tan News<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"From GrassrootsHealth What is Vitamin D Good For? (Part 9: Immune Health) \u2013 Vitamin D is needed by virtually every cell in the body, and is essential for hundreds of processes each and every day  As part of our\u00a0What is Vitamin D Good For?\u00a0series, this post will attempt to summarize those roles to clearly show how the immune system relies on vitamin D to function properly. Because vitamin D acts as a protector and regulator of all cell types, tissues, and organs, it is required for the proper functioning of each system of the body to help keep us healthy. This is especially true for our immune system, since vitamin D has specific regulatory effects on immune cells and inflammation.  So far, we have covered how vitamin D contributes to the health of the\u00a0musculoskeletal system,\u00a0dermatological system,\u00a0reproductive system,\u00a0respiratory system,\u00a0cardiovascular system,\u00a0digestive system, and to\u00a0cancer prevention\u00a0and\u00a0cognitive and mental-emotional wellness. A deficit in vitamin D can lead to impairment or disease in each of these systems \u2013 from brittle bones to heart disease, cancer and dementia. With this in mind, why take a chance at being deficient in vitamin D? Summary of Overall Benefits of Vitamin D for Immune Health Vitamin D functions in the immune system to:   Regulate the activity of many immune cells including\u00a0macrophages and monocytes,\u00a0B-cells, and\u00a0T-cells  Supports the\u00a0innate and acquired immune system  Helps\u00a0regulate inflammation,\u00a0allergies\u00a0and\u00a0asthma  Increases the presence and actions of\u00a0anti-microbial peptides\u00a0(cathelicidins and defensins) which act to disrupt microbial membranes, reduce viral replication, and\u00a0inhibit the cytokine storm  Increases white blood cells\u00a0to fight infection  Regulates immune system activity through modulating the\u00a0expression of immune regulating genes  Increases the expression of antioxidant defenses  Increases the\u00a0biodiversity of the gut microbiome, which has been shown to have protective effects against inflammation and respiratory tract infections  Immune-response diseases associated with low vitamin D  Vitamin D insufficiency has been associated with increased susceptibility to all types of infections. Vitamin D intake and blood levels have potential effects on disease risk, severity, and mortality. Infections that have been associated with low vitamin D levels include:   Tuberculosis  Influenza  The\u00a0\u201cCommon Cold\u201d  Leukemia  Multiple Myeloma  Urinary tract infections  Allergies  Asthma  Respiratory tract infections  Bacterial vaginosis  COVID-19  What is Your Immune System? Being exposed to viruses, bacteria, and toxins is a part of a normal day. They are in the air we breathe, the food we eat, in the water we drink and on surfaces we touch. Your immune system has been training since you were born to protect you from the \u201cpathogens\u201d that cause infection or disease. But sometimes, infection takes hold and your immune system has to fight off those pathogens. What you may not realize is that\u00a0the nutrients in your diet directly influence the ability of your immune system to function.  There are two main immune reactions. The innate immune system works to stop the initial invasion of pathogens. It is the body\u2019s first line of defense, and includes barriers such as our skin, mucous membranes, stomach acid, and microbiota, as well as the generalized inflammatory response. It is a quicker response that does not differentiate between pathogens \u2013 it just identifies that there is a problem, and works to eliminate it.  The adaptive immune reaction involves a more complicated, strategized set of actions to identify which pathogen has invaded and then create immune cells specifically designed to destroy that pathogen; a process that can take days to weeks \u2013 as is often the case with viral infections. The adaptive immune response can also use antigens to \u201cremember\u201d that specific pathogen which makes future responses more efficient. Vitamin D Regulates Immune Cells and the Immune Response Vitamin D plays a crucial role in regulating immune system activity \u2013 both innate and adaptive responses. The\u00a0innate immune system is responsible for the initial defensive front\u00a0with a\u00a0central role played by phagocytes. Vitamin D stimulates expansion of these phagocytes (monocytes and macrophages), increasing their ability to fight off the virus by increasing their numbers, as well as increasing their killing capacity through stimulating the production of the anti-viral and anti-microbial protein cathelicidin. Vitamin D also acts to regulate the maturation of dendritic cells which are important for activating CD4+ T cells and in turn the rest of the immune response (see more below).  Vitamin D is a potent regulator of both\u00a0cell-mediated (T cell)\u00a0and\u00a0humoral (B cell) immunity. This is a vital part of the body\u2019s defense against pathogenic invader, allowing white blood cells to recognize, bind to, and destroy pathogens \u2013 a process that relies on vitamin D to function properly.  The diagram below outlines many specific ways vitamin D affects different immune cells of both the innate and adaptive immune response.    Charoenngam et al.,\u00a0Endocrine Practice, 2021. Vitamin D Activates T-cells to Identify and Destroy Pathogens Vitamin D is especially critical to the activation and modulation of T cells, which help identify and destroy pathogens. In this step, vitamin D becomes an essential component to how well the immune system responds to infection. T cells are able to directly and indirectly kill infected cells, depending on which type of T cell it is. There are several types of T cells that are important to a viral immune response, including helper T Cells (CD4+ T Cells) that help identify and direct the immune response, cytotoxic T cells (CD8 T Cells) that bind to and kill infected cells, and memory T cells that remember the pathogen and how to defeat it. Important to their function are the T cell receptors, which must be activated in order for the T cells to bind to the infected cells. Helper T cells also release specific proteins called cytokines (such as interleukin) in order to orchestrate the binding and activation of the T cells, ultimately causing the destruction of the infected cells.    Without sufficient vitamin D, these T cells are unable to become \u2018activated\u2019 and the immune system is more likely to become dysregulated, leading to increased inflammation and decreased efficiency of recovery. Vitamin D Regulates Cytokines and Inflammation Vitamin D acts to regulate T cell response through initiating dendritic cell tolerance. These dendritic cells in turn stimulate the increased production of T regulatory (Treg) cells and their production of anti-inflammatory interleukin (IL)-10, switching the response from being Th1-driven and pro-inflammatory to a Th2-driven anti-inflammatory response.  Vitamin D acts to suppress the production of inflammatory cytokines (such as IL-1, IL-6 and IFN which are predominant in the cytokine storm characteristic of\u00a0severe COVID-19). Vitamin D also has an effect on the actions of B-cells and inhibits the production of antibodies. Overall, the immunomodulatory actions of vitamin D play a very important role in preventing the activation of an inappropriate hyper-inflammatory immune response, therefore preventing the now infamous cytokine storm.  &nbsp;  &nbsp;  &nbsp;  SmartTan.com news articles regularly report medical and scientific information to keep you abreast of current events related to UV light. This information is not intended to be used by any party to make unwarranted health claims to promote sunbed usage. Indoor tanning businesses are obligated to communicate a fair and balanced message to all clients about your products and services including the potential risks associated with indoor tanning. Contact your Smart Tan representative to find out more about what you can and can\u2019t say in your tanning salon business.  \u00a9 2024 International Smart Tan Network. All rights reserved.  &nbsp;\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/index.php\/immune-system-vitamin-d\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"How the Immune System Relies on Vitamin D - Smart Tan News\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"From GrassrootsHealth What is Vitamin D Good For? (Part 9: Immune Health) \u2013 Vitamin D is needed by virtually every cell in the body, and is essential for hundreds of processes each and every day  As part of our\u00a0What is Vitamin D Good For?\u00a0series, this post will attempt to summarize those roles to clearly show how the immune system relies on vitamin D to function properly. Because vitamin D acts as a protector and regulator of all cell types, tissues, and organs, it is required for the proper functioning of each system of the body to help keep us healthy. This is especially true for our immune system, since vitamin D has specific regulatory effects on immune cells and inflammation.  So far, we have covered how vitamin D contributes to the health of the\u00a0musculoskeletal system,\u00a0dermatological system,\u00a0reproductive system,\u00a0respiratory system,\u00a0cardiovascular system,\u00a0digestive system, and to\u00a0cancer prevention\u00a0and\u00a0cognitive and mental-emotional wellness. A deficit in vitamin D can lead to impairment or disease in each of these systems \u2013 from brittle bones to heart disease, cancer and dementia. With this in mind, why take a chance at being deficient in vitamin D? Summary of Overall Benefits of Vitamin D for Immune Health Vitamin D functions in the immune system to:   Regulate the activity of many immune cells including\u00a0macrophages and monocytes,\u00a0B-cells, and\u00a0T-cells  Supports the\u00a0innate and acquired immune system  Helps\u00a0regulate inflammation,\u00a0allergies\u00a0and\u00a0asthma  Increases the presence and actions of\u00a0anti-microbial peptides\u00a0(cathelicidins and defensins) which act to disrupt microbial membranes, reduce viral replication, and\u00a0inhibit the cytokine storm  Increases white blood cells\u00a0to fight infection  Regulates immune system activity through modulating the\u00a0expression of immune regulating genes  Increases the expression of antioxidant defenses  Increases the\u00a0biodiversity of the gut microbiome, which has been shown to have protective effects against inflammation and respiratory tract infections  Immune-response diseases associated with low vitamin D  Vitamin D insufficiency has been associated with increased susceptibility to all types of infections. Vitamin D intake and blood levels have potential effects on disease risk, severity, and mortality. Infections that have been associated with low vitamin D levels include:   Tuberculosis  Influenza  The\u00a0\u201cCommon Cold\u201d  Leukemia  Multiple Myeloma  Urinary tract infections  Allergies  Asthma  Respiratory tract infections  Bacterial vaginosis  COVID-19  What is Your Immune System? Being exposed to viruses, bacteria, and toxins is a part of a normal day. They are in the air we breathe, the food we eat, in the water we drink and on surfaces we touch. Your immune system has been training since you were born to protect you from the \u201cpathogens\u201d that cause infection or disease. But sometimes, infection takes hold and your immune system has to fight off those pathogens. What you may not realize is that\u00a0the nutrients in your diet directly influence the ability of your immune system to function.  There are two main immune reactions. The innate immune system works to stop the initial invasion of pathogens. It is the body\u2019s first line of defense, and includes barriers such as our skin, mucous membranes, stomach acid, and microbiota, as well as the generalized inflammatory response. It is a quicker response that does not differentiate between pathogens \u2013 it just identifies that there is a problem, and works to eliminate it.  The adaptive immune reaction involves a more complicated, strategized set of actions to identify which pathogen has invaded and then create immune cells specifically designed to destroy that pathogen; a process that can take days to weeks \u2013 as is often the case with viral infections. The adaptive immune response can also use antigens to \u201cremember\u201d that specific pathogen which makes future responses more efficient. Vitamin D Regulates Immune Cells and the Immune Response Vitamin D plays a crucial role in regulating immune system activity \u2013 both innate and adaptive responses. The\u00a0innate immune system is responsible for the initial defensive front\u00a0with a\u00a0central role played by phagocytes. Vitamin D stimulates expansion of these phagocytes (monocytes and macrophages), increasing their ability to fight off the virus by increasing their numbers, as well as increasing their killing capacity through stimulating the production of the anti-viral and anti-microbial protein cathelicidin. Vitamin D also acts to regulate the maturation of dendritic cells which are important for activating CD4+ T cells and in turn the rest of the immune response (see more below).  Vitamin D is a potent regulator of both\u00a0cell-mediated (T cell)\u00a0and\u00a0humoral (B cell) immunity. This is a vital part of the body\u2019s defense against pathogenic invader, allowing white blood cells to recognize, bind to, and destroy pathogens \u2013 a process that relies on vitamin D to function properly.  The diagram below outlines many specific ways vitamin D affects different immune cells of both the innate and adaptive immune response.    Charoenngam et al.,\u00a0Endocrine Practice, 2021. Vitamin D Activates T-cells to Identify and Destroy Pathogens Vitamin D is especially critical to the activation and modulation of T cells, which help identify and destroy pathogens. In this step, vitamin D becomes an essential component to how well the immune system responds to infection. T cells are able to directly and indirectly kill infected cells, depending on which type of T cell it is. There are several types of T cells that are important to a viral immune response, including helper T Cells (CD4+ T Cells) that help identify and direct the immune response, cytotoxic T cells (CD8 T Cells) that bind to and kill infected cells, and memory T cells that remember the pathogen and how to defeat it. Important to their function are the T cell receptors, which must be activated in order for the T cells to bind to the infected cells. Helper T cells also release specific proteins called cytokines (such as interleukin) in order to orchestrate the binding and activation of the T cells, ultimately causing the destruction of the infected cells.    Without sufficient vitamin D, these T cells are unable to become \u2018activated\u2019 and the immune system is more likely to become dysregulated, leading to increased inflammation and decreased efficiency of recovery. Vitamin D Regulates Cytokines and Inflammation Vitamin D acts to regulate T cell response through initiating dendritic cell tolerance. These dendritic cells in turn stimulate the increased production of T regulatory (Treg) cells and their production of anti-inflammatory interleukin (IL)-10, switching the response from being Th1-driven and pro-inflammatory to a Th2-driven anti-inflammatory response.  Vitamin D acts to suppress the production of inflammatory cytokines (such as IL-1, IL-6 and IFN which are predominant in the cytokine storm characteristic of\u00a0severe COVID-19). Vitamin D also has an effect on the actions of B-cells and inhibits the production of antibodies. Overall, the immunomodulatory actions of vitamin D play a very important role in preventing the activation of an inappropriate hyper-inflammatory immune response, therefore preventing the now infamous cytokine storm.  &nbsp;  &nbsp;  &nbsp;  SmartTan.com news articles regularly report medical and scientific information to keep you abreast of current events related to UV light. This information is not intended to be used by any party to make unwarranted health claims to promote sunbed usage. Indoor tanning businesses are obligated to communicate a fair and balanced message to all clients about your products and services including the potential risks associated with indoor tanning. Contact your Smart Tan representative to find out more about what you can and can\u2019t say in your tanning salon business.  \u00a9 2024 International Smart Tan Network. All rights reserved.  &nbsp;\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/index.php\/immune-system-vitamin-d\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Smart Tan News\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/SmartTan\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2024-04-22T11:30:46+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2024-04-24T13:13:55+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Vitamin-D-4-20-21.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1360\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1000\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"smarttannews\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@SmartTan\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@SmartTan\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"smarttannews\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"7 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/index.php\/immune-system-vitamin-d\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/index.php\/immune-system-vitamin-d\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"smarttannews\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/#\/schema\/person\/722dc7049af55e0ed743d67ce9ed4819\"},\"headline\":\"How the Immune System Relies on Vitamin D\",\"datePublished\":\"2024-04-22T11:30:46+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2024-04-24T13:13:55+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/index.php\/immune-system-vitamin-d\/\"},\"wordCount\":1248,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/index.php\/immune-system-vitamin-d\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Vitamin-D-4-20-21.jpg\",\"articleSection\":[\"News\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/index.php\/immune-system-vitamin-d\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/index.php\/immune-system-vitamin-d\/\",\"name\":\"How the Immune System Relies on Vitamin D - Smart Tan News\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/index.php\/immune-system-vitamin-d\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/index.php\/immune-system-vitamin-d\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Vitamin-D-4-20-21.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2024-04-22T11:30:46+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2024-04-24T13:13:55+00:00\",\"description\":\"From GrassrootsHealth What is Vitamin D Good For? (Part 9: Immune Health) \u2013 Vitamin D is needed by virtually every cell in the body, and is essential for hundreds of processes each and every day As part of our\u00a0What is Vitamin D Good For?\u00a0series, this post will attempt to summarize those roles to clearly show how the immune system relies on vitamin D to function properly. Because vitamin D acts as a protector and regulator of all cell types, tissues, and organs, it is required for the proper functioning of each system of the body to help keep us healthy. This is especially true for our immune system, since vitamin D has specific regulatory effects on immune cells and inflammation. So far, we have covered how vitamin D contributes to the health of the\u00a0musculoskeletal system,\u00a0dermatological system,\u00a0reproductive system,\u00a0respiratory system,\u00a0cardiovascular system,\u00a0digestive system, and to\u00a0cancer prevention\u00a0and\u00a0cognitive and mental-emotional wellness. A deficit in vitamin D can lead to impairment or disease in each of these systems \u2013 from brittle bones to heart disease, cancer and dementia. With this in mind, why take a chance at being deficient in vitamin D? Summary of Overall Benefits of Vitamin D for Immune Health Vitamin D functions in the immune system to: Regulate the activity of many immune cells including\u00a0macrophages and monocytes,\u00a0B-cells, and\u00a0T-cells Supports the\u00a0innate and acquired immune system Helps\u00a0regulate inflammation,\u00a0allergies\u00a0and\u00a0asthma Increases the presence and actions of\u00a0anti-microbial peptides\u00a0(cathelicidins and defensins) which act to disrupt microbial membranes, reduce viral replication, and\u00a0inhibit the cytokine storm Increases white blood cells\u00a0to fight infection Regulates immune system activity through modulating the\u00a0expression of immune regulating genes Increases the expression of antioxidant defenses Increases the\u00a0biodiversity of the gut microbiome, which has been shown to have protective effects against inflammation and respiratory tract infections Immune-response diseases associated with low vitamin D Vitamin D insufficiency has been associated with increased susceptibility to all types of infections. Vitamin D intake and blood levels have potential effects on disease risk, severity, and mortality. Infections that have been associated with low vitamin D levels include: Tuberculosis Influenza The\u00a0\u201cCommon Cold\u201d Leukemia Multiple Myeloma Urinary tract infections Allergies Asthma Respiratory tract infections Bacterial vaginosis COVID-19 What is Your Immune System? Being exposed to viruses, bacteria, and toxins is a part of a normal day. They are in the air we breathe, the food we eat, in the water we drink and on surfaces we touch. Your immune system has been training since you were born to protect you from the \u201cpathogens\u201d that cause infection or disease. But sometimes, infection takes hold and your immune system has to fight off those pathogens. What you may not realize is that\u00a0the nutrients in your diet directly influence the ability of your immune system to function. There are two main immune reactions. The innate immune system works to stop the initial invasion of pathogens. It is the body\u2019s first line of defense, and includes barriers such as our skin, mucous membranes, stomach acid, and microbiota, as well as the generalized inflammatory response. It is a quicker response that does not differentiate between pathogens \u2013 it just identifies that there is a problem, and works to eliminate it. The adaptive immune reaction involves a more complicated, strategized set of actions to identify which pathogen has invaded and then create immune cells specifically designed to destroy that pathogen; a process that can take days to weeks \u2013 as is often the case with viral infections. The adaptive immune response can also use antigens to \u201cremember\u201d that specific pathogen which makes future responses more efficient. Vitamin D Regulates Immune Cells and the Immune Response Vitamin D plays a crucial role in regulating immune system activity \u2013 both innate and adaptive responses. The\u00a0innate immune system is responsible for the initial defensive front\u00a0with a\u00a0central role played by phagocytes. Vitamin D stimulates expansion of these phagocytes (monocytes and macrophages), increasing their ability to fight off the virus by increasing their numbers, as well as increasing their killing capacity through stimulating the production of the anti-viral and anti-microbial protein cathelicidin. Vitamin D also acts to regulate the maturation of dendritic cells which are important for activating CD4+ T cells and in turn the rest of the immune response (see more below). Vitamin D is a potent regulator of both\u00a0cell-mediated (T cell)\u00a0and\u00a0humoral (B cell) immunity. This is a vital part of the body\u2019s defense against pathogenic invader, allowing white blood cells to recognize, bind to, and destroy pathogens \u2013 a process that relies on vitamin D to function properly. The diagram below outlines many specific ways vitamin D affects different immune cells of both the innate and adaptive immune response. Charoenngam et al.,\u00a0Endocrine Practice, 2021. Vitamin D Activates T-cells to Identify and Destroy Pathogens Vitamin D is especially critical to the activation and modulation of T cells, which help identify and destroy pathogens. In this step, vitamin D becomes an essential component to how well the immune system responds to infection. T cells are able to directly and indirectly kill infected cells, depending on which type of T cell it is. There are several types of T cells that are important to a viral immune response, including helper T Cells (CD4+ T Cells) that help identify and direct the immune response, cytotoxic T cells (CD8 T Cells) that bind to and kill infected cells, and memory T cells that remember the pathogen and how to defeat it. Important to their function are the T cell receptors, which must be activated in order for the T cells to bind to the infected cells. Helper T cells also release specific proteins called cytokines (such as interleukin) in order to orchestrate the binding and activation of the T cells, ultimately causing the destruction of the infected cells. Without sufficient vitamin D, these T cells are unable to become \u2018activated\u2019 and the immune system is more likely to become dysregulated, leading to increased inflammation and decreased efficiency of recovery. Vitamin D Regulates Cytokines and Inflammation Vitamin D acts to regulate T cell response through initiating dendritic cell tolerance. These dendritic cells in turn stimulate the increased production of T regulatory (Treg) cells and their production of anti-inflammatory interleukin (IL)-10, switching the response from being Th1-driven and pro-inflammatory to a Th2-driven anti-inflammatory response. Vitamin D acts to suppress the production of inflammatory cytokines (such as IL-1, IL-6 and IFN which are predominant in the cytokine storm characteristic of\u00a0severe COVID-19). Vitamin D also has an effect on the actions of B-cells and inhibits the production of antibodies. Overall, the immunomodulatory actions of vitamin D play a very important role in preventing the activation of an inappropriate hyper-inflammatory immune response, therefore preventing the now infamous cytokine storm. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; SmartTan.com news articles regularly report medical and scientific information to keep you abreast of current events related to UV light. This information is not intended to be used by any party to make unwarranted health claims to promote sunbed usage. Indoor tanning businesses are obligated to communicate a fair and balanced message to all clients about your products and services including the potential risks associated with indoor tanning. Contact your Smart Tan representative to find out more about what you can and can\u2019t say in your tanning salon business. \u00a9 2024 International Smart Tan Network. All rights reserved. &nbsp;\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/index.php\/immune-system-vitamin-d\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/index.php\/immune-system-vitamin-d\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/index.php\/immune-system-vitamin-d\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Vitamin-D-4-20-21.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Vitamin-D-4-20-21.jpg\",\"width\":1360,\"height\":1000,\"caption\":\"Young Woman is holding Vitamin D Capsule\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/index.php\/immune-system-vitamin-d\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"How the Immune System Relies on Vitamin D\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/\",\"name\":\"Smart Tan News\",\"description\":\"\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/#organization\",\"name\":\"Smart Tan\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/smarttan.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Smart-Tan.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/smarttan.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Smart-Tan.png\",\"width\":500,\"height\":164,\"caption\":\"Smart Tan\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/SmartTan\",\"https:\/\/x.com\/SmartTan\"]},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/#\/schema\/person\/722dc7049af55e0ed743d67ce9ed4819\",\"name\":\"smarttannews\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/c0189f76465f47ce293287354f8076bfdb83130e65538eb34fcd2cd44e9f0e53?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/c0189f76465f47ce293287354f8076bfdb83130e65538eb34fcd2cd44e9f0e53?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/c0189f76465f47ce293287354f8076bfdb83130e65538eb34fcd2cd44e9f0e53?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"smarttannews\"},\"url\":\"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/index.php\/author\/smarttannews\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"How the Immune System Relies on Vitamin D - Smart Tan News","description":"From GrassrootsHealth What is Vitamin D Good For? (Part 9: Immune Health) \u2013 Vitamin D is needed by virtually every cell in the body, and is essential for hundreds of processes each and every day  As part of our\u00a0What is Vitamin D Good For?\u00a0series, this post will attempt to summarize those roles to clearly show how the immune system relies on vitamin D to function properly. Because vitamin D acts as a protector and regulator of all cell types, tissues, and organs, it is required for the proper functioning of each system of the body to help keep us healthy. This is especially true for our immune system, since vitamin D has specific regulatory effects on immune cells and inflammation.  So far, we have covered how vitamin D contributes to the health of the\u00a0musculoskeletal system,\u00a0dermatological system,\u00a0reproductive system,\u00a0respiratory system,\u00a0cardiovascular system,\u00a0digestive system, and to\u00a0cancer prevention\u00a0and\u00a0cognitive and mental-emotional wellness. A deficit in vitamin D can lead to impairment or disease in each of these systems \u2013 from brittle bones to heart disease, cancer and dementia. With this in mind, why take a chance at being deficient in vitamin D? Summary of Overall Benefits of Vitamin D for Immune Health Vitamin D functions in the immune system to:   Regulate the activity of many immune cells including\u00a0macrophages and monocytes,\u00a0B-cells, and\u00a0T-cells  Supports the\u00a0innate and acquired immune system  Helps\u00a0regulate inflammation,\u00a0allergies\u00a0and\u00a0asthma  Increases the presence and actions of\u00a0anti-microbial peptides\u00a0(cathelicidins and defensins) which act to disrupt microbial membranes, reduce viral replication, and\u00a0inhibit the cytokine storm  Increases white blood cells\u00a0to fight infection  Regulates immune system activity through modulating the\u00a0expression of immune regulating genes  Increases the expression of antioxidant defenses  Increases the\u00a0biodiversity of the gut microbiome, which has been shown to have protective effects against inflammation and respiratory tract infections  Immune-response diseases associated with low vitamin D  Vitamin D insufficiency has been associated with increased susceptibility to all types of infections. Vitamin D intake and blood levels have potential effects on disease risk, severity, and mortality. Infections that have been associated with low vitamin D levels include:   Tuberculosis  Influenza  The\u00a0\u201cCommon Cold\u201d  Leukemia  Multiple Myeloma  Urinary tract infections  Allergies  Asthma  Respiratory tract infections  Bacterial vaginosis  COVID-19  What is Your Immune System? Being exposed to viruses, bacteria, and toxins is a part of a normal day. They are in the air we breathe, the food we eat, in the water we drink and on surfaces we touch. Your immune system has been training since you were born to protect you from the \u201cpathogens\u201d that cause infection or disease. But sometimes, infection takes hold and your immune system has to fight off those pathogens. What you may not realize is that\u00a0the nutrients in your diet directly influence the ability of your immune system to function.  There are two main immune reactions. The innate immune system works to stop the initial invasion of pathogens. It is the body\u2019s first line of defense, and includes barriers such as our skin, mucous membranes, stomach acid, and microbiota, as well as the generalized inflammatory response. It is a quicker response that does not differentiate between pathogens \u2013 it just identifies that there is a problem, and works to eliminate it.  The adaptive immune reaction involves a more complicated, strategized set of actions to identify which pathogen has invaded and then create immune cells specifically designed to destroy that pathogen; a process that can take days to weeks \u2013 as is often the case with viral infections. The adaptive immune response can also use antigens to \u201cremember\u201d that specific pathogen which makes future responses more efficient. Vitamin D Regulates Immune Cells and the Immune Response Vitamin D plays a crucial role in regulating immune system activity \u2013 both innate and adaptive responses. The\u00a0innate immune system is responsible for the initial defensive front\u00a0with a\u00a0central role played by phagocytes. Vitamin D stimulates expansion of these phagocytes (monocytes and macrophages), increasing their ability to fight off the virus by increasing their numbers, as well as increasing their killing capacity through stimulating the production of the anti-viral and anti-microbial protein cathelicidin. Vitamin D also acts to regulate the maturation of dendritic cells which are important for activating CD4+ T cells and in turn the rest of the immune response (see more below).  Vitamin D is a potent regulator of both\u00a0cell-mediated (T cell)\u00a0and\u00a0humoral (B cell) immunity. This is a vital part of the body\u2019s defense against pathogenic invader, allowing white blood cells to recognize, bind to, and destroy pathogens \u2013 a process that relies on vitamin D to function properly.  The diagram below outlines many specific ways vitamin D affects different immune cells of both the innate and adaptive immune response.    Charoenngam et al.,\u00a0Endocrine Practice, 2021. Vitamin D Activates T-cells to Identify and Destroy Pathogens Vitamin D is especially critical to the activation and modulation of T cells, which help identify and destroy pathogens. In this step, vitamin D becomes an essential component to how well the immune system responds to infection. T cells are able to directly and indirectly kill infected cells, depending on which type of T cell it is. There are several types of T cells that are important to a viral immune response, including helper T Cells (CD4+ T Cells) that help identify and direct the immune response, cytotoxic T cells (CD8 T Cells) that bind to and kill infected cells, and memory T cells that remember the pathogen and how to defeat it. Important to their function are the T cell receptors, which must be activated in order for the T cells to bind to the infected cells. Helper T cells also release specific proteins called cytokines (such as interleukin) in order to orchestrate the binding and activation of the T cells, ultimately causing the destruction of the infected cells.    Without sufficient vitamin D, these T cells are unable to become \u2018activated\u2019 and the immune system is more likely to become dysregulated, leading to increased inflammation and decreased efficiency of recovery. Vitamin D Regulates Cytokines and Inflammation Vitamin D acts to regulate T cell response through initiating dendritic cell tolerance. These dendritic cells in turn stimulate the increased production of T regulatory (Treg) cells and their production of anti-inflammatory interleukin (IL)-10, switching the response from being Th1-driven and pro-inflammatory to a Th2-driven anti-inflammatory response.  Vitamin D acts to suppress the production of inflammatory cytokines (such as IL-1, IL-6 and IFN which are predominant in the cytokine storm characteristic of\u00a0severe COVID-19). Vitamin D also has an effect on the actions of B-cells and inhibits the production of antibodies. Overall, the immunomodulatory actions of vitamin D play a very important role in preventing the activation of an inappropriate hyper-inflammatory immune response, therefore preventing the now infamous cytokine storm.  &nbsp;  &nbsp;  &nbsp;  SmartTan.com news articles regularly report medical and scientific information to keep you abreast of current events related to UV light. This information is not intended to be used by any party to make unwarranted health claims to promote sunbed usage. Indoor tanning businesses are obligated to communicate a fair and balanced message to all clients about your products and services including the potential risks associated with indoor tanning. Contact your Smart Tan representative to find out more about what you can and can\u2019t say in your tanning salon business.  \u00a9 2024 International Smart Tan Network. All rights reserved.  &nbsp;","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/index.php\/immune-system-vitamin-d\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"How the Immune System Relies on Vitamin D - Smart Tan News","og_description":"From GrassrootsHealth What is Vitamin D Good For? (Part 9: Immune Health) \u2013 Vitamin D is needed by virtually every cell in the body, and is essential for hundreds of processes each and every day  As part of our\u00a0What is Vitamin D Good For?\u00a0series, this post will attempt to summarize those roles to clearly show how the immune system relies on vitamin D to function properly. Because vitamin D acts as a protector and regulator of all cell types, tissues, and organs, it is required for the proper functioning of each system of the body to help keep us healthy. This is especially true for our immune system, since vitamin D has specific regulatory effects on immune cells and inflammation.  So far, we have covered how vitamin D contributes to the health of the\u00a0musculoskeletal system,\u00a0dermatological system,\u00a0reproductive system,\u00a0respiratory system,\u00a0cardiovascular system,\u00a0digestive system, and to\u00a0cancer prevention\u00a0and\u00a0cognitive and mental-emotional wellness. A deficit in vitamin D can lead to impairment or disease in each of these systems \u2013 from brittle bones to heart disease, cancer and dementia. With this in mind, why take a chance at being deficient in vitamin D? Summary of Overall Benefits of Vitamin D for Immune Health Vitamin D functions in the immune system to:   Regulate the activity of many immune cells including\u00a0macrophages and monocytes,\u00a0B-cells, and\u00a0T-cells  Supports the\u00a0innate and acquired immune system  Helps\u00a0regulate inflammation,\u00a0allergies\u00a0and\u00a0asthma  Increases the presence and actions of\u00a0anti-microbial peptides\u00a0(cathelicidins and defensins) which act to disrupt microbial membranes, reduce viral replication, and\u00a0inhibit the cytokine storm  Increases white blood cells\u00a0to fight infection  Regulates immune system activity through modulating the\u00a0expression of immune regulating genes  Increases the expression of antioxidant defenses  Increases the\u00a0biodiversity of the gut microbiome, which has been shown to have protective effects against inflammation and respiratory tract infections  Immune-response diseases associated with low vitamin D  Vitamin D insufficiency has been associated with increased susceptibility to all types of infections. Vitamin D intake and blood levels have potential effects on disease risk, severity, and mortality. Infections that have been associated with low vitamin D levels include:   Tuberculosis  Influenza  The\u00a0\u201cCommon Cold\u201d  Leukemia  Multiple Myeloma  Urinary tract infections  Allergies  Asthma  Respiratory tract infections  Bacterial vaginosis  COVID-19  What is Your Immune System? Being exposed to viruses, bacteria, and toxins is a part of a normal day. They are in the air we breathe, the food we eat, in the water we drink and on surfaces we touch. Your immune system has been training since you were born to protect you from the \u201cpathogens\u201d that cause infection or disease. But sometimes, infection takes hold and your immune system has to fight off those pathogens. What you may not realize is that\u00a0the nutrients in your diet directly influence the ability of your immune system to function.  There are two main immune reactions. The innate immune system works to stop the initial invasion of pathogens. It is the body\u2019s first line of defense, and includes barriers such as our skin, mucous membranes, stomach acid, and microbiota, as well as the generalized inflammatory response. It is a quicker response that does not differentiate between pathogens \u2013 it just identifies that there is a problem, and works to eliminate it.  The adaptive immune reaction involves a more complicated, strategized set of actions to identify which pathogen has invaded and then create immune cells specifically designed to destroy that pathogen; a process that can take days to weeks \u2013 as is often the case with viral infections. The adaptive immune response can also use antigens to \u201cremember\u201d that specific pathogen which makes future responses more efficient. Vitamin D Regulates Immune Cells and the Immune Response Vitamin D plays a crucial role in regulating immune system activity \u2013 both innate and adaptive responses. The\u00a0innate immune system is responsible for the initial defensive front\u00a0with a\u00a0central role played by phagocytes. Vitamin D stimulates expansion of these phagocytes (monocytes and macrophages), increasing their ability to fight off the virus by increasing their numbers, as well as increasing their killing capacity through stimulating the production of the anti-viral and anti-microbial protein cathelicidin. Vitamin D also acts to regulate the maturation of dendritic cells which are important for activating CD4+ T cells and in turn the rest of the immune response (see more below).  Vitamin D is a potent regulator of both\u00a0cell-mediated (T cell)\u00a0and\u00a0humoral (B cell) immunity. This is a vital part of the body\u2019s defense against pathogenic invader, allowing white blood cells to recognize, bind to, and destroy pathogens \u2013 a process that relies on vitamin D to function properly.  The diagram below outlines many specific ways vitamin D affects different immune cells of both the innate and adaptive immune response.    Charoenngam et al.,\u00a0Endocrine Practice, 2021. Vitamin D Activates T-cells to Identify and Destroy Pathogens Vitamin D is especially critical to the activation and modulation of T cells, which help identify and destroy pathogens. In this step, vitamin D becomes an essential component to how well the immune system responds to infection. T cells are able to directly and indirectly kill infected cells, depending on which type of T cell it is. There are several types of T cells that are important to a viral immune response, including helper T Cells (CD4+ T Cells) that help identify and direct the immune response, cytotoxic T cells (CD8 T Cells) that bind to and kill infected cells, and memory T cells that remember the pathogen and how to defeat it. Important to their function are the T cell receptors, which must be activated in order for the T cells to bind to the infected cells. Helper T cells also release specific proteins called cytokines (such as interleukin) in order to orchestrate the binding and activation of the T cells, ultimately causing the destruction of the infected cells.    Without sufficient vitamin D, these T cells are unable to become \u2018activated\u2019 and the immune system is more likely to become dysregulated, leading to increased inflammation and decreased efficiency of recovery. Vitamin D Regulates Cytokines and Inflammation Vitamin D acts to regulate T cell response through initiating dendritic cell tolerance. These dendritic cells in turn stimulate the increased production of T regulatory (Treg) cells and their production of anti-inflammatory interleukin (IL)-10, switching the response from being Th1-driven and pro-inflammatory to a Th2-driven anti-inflammatory response.  Vitamin D acts to suppress the production of inflammatory cytokines (such as IL-1, IL-6 and IFN which are predominant in the cytokine storm characteristic of\u00a0severe COVID-19). Vitamin D also has an effect on the actions of B-cells and inhibits the production of antibodies. Overall, the immunomodulatory actions of vitamin D play a very important role in preventing the activation of an inappropriate hyper-inflammatory immune response, therefore preventing the now infamous cytokine storm.  &nbsp;  &nbsp;  &nbsp;  SmartTan.com news articles regularly report medical and scientific information to keep you abreast of current events related to UV light. This information is not intended to be used by any party to make unwarranted health claims to promote sunbed usage. Indoor tanning businesses are obligated to communicate a fair and balanced message to all clients about your products and services including the potential risks associated with indoor tanning. Contact your Smart Tan representative to find out more about what you can and can\u2019t say in your tanning salon business.  \u00a9 2024 International Smart Tan Network. All rights reserved.  &nbsp;","og_url":"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/index.php\/immune-system-vitamin-d\/","og_site_name":"Smart Tan News","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/SmartTan","article_published_time":"2024-04-22T11:30:46+00:00","article_modified_time":"2024-04-24T13:13:55+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1360,"height":1000,"url":"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Vitamin-D-4-20-21.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"smarttannews","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_creator":"@SmartTan","twitter_site":"@SmartTan","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"smarttannews","Est. reading time":"7 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/index.php\/immune-system-vitamin-d\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/index.php\/immune-system-vitamin-d\/"},"author":{"name":"smarttannews","@id":"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/#\/schema\/person\/722dc7049af55e0ed743d67ce9ed4819"},"headline":"How the Immune System Relies on Vitamin D","datePublished":"2024-04-22T11:30:46+00:00","dateModified":"2024-04-24T13:13:55+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/index.php\/immune-system-vitamin-d\/"},"wordCount":1248,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/index.php\/immune-system-vitamin-d\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Vitamin-D-4-20-21.jpg","articleSection":["News"],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/index.php\/immune-system-vitamin-d\/","url":"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/index.php\/immune-system-vitamin-d\/","name":"How the Immune System Relies on Vitamin D - Smart Tan News","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/index.php\/immune-system-vitamin-d\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/index.php\/immune-system-vitamin-d\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Vitamin-D-4-20-21.jpg","datePublished":"2024-04-22T11:30:46+00:00","dateModified":"2024-04-24T13:13:55+00:00","description":"From GrassrootsHealth What is Vitamin D Good For? (Part 9: Immune Health) \u2013 Vitamin D is needed by virtually every cell in the body, and is essential for hundreds of processes each and every day As part of our\u00a0What is Vitamin D Good For?\u00a0series, this post will attempt to summarize those roles to clearly show how the immune system relies on vitamin D to function properly. Because vitamin D acts as a protector and regulator of all cell types, tissues, and organs, it is required for the proper functioning of each system of the body to help keep us healthy. This is especially true for our immune system, since vitamin D has specific regulatory effects on immune cells and inflammation. So far, we have covered how vitamin D contributes to the health of the\u00a0musculoskeletal system,\u00a0dermatological system,\u00a0reproductive system,\u00a0respiratory system,\u00a0cardiovascular system,\u00a0digestive system, and to\u00a0cancer prevention\u00a0and\u00a0cognitive and mental-emotional wellness. A deficit in vitamin D can lead to impairment or disease in each of these systems \u2013 from brittle bones to heart disease, cancer and dementia. With this in mind, why take a chance at being deficient in vitamin D? Summary of Overall Benefits of Vitamin D for Immune Health Vitamin D functions in the immune system to: Regulate the activity of many immune cells including\u00a0macrophages and monocytes,\u00a0B-cells, and\u00a0T-cells Supports the\u00a0innate and acquired immune system Helps\u00a0regulate inflammation,\u00a0allergies\u00a0and\u00a0asthma Increases the presence and actions of\u00a0anti-microbial peptides\u00a0(cathelicidins and defensins) which act to disrupt microbial membranes, reduce viral replication, and\u00a0inhibit the cytokine storm Increases white blood cells\u00a0to fight infection Regulates immune system activity through modulating the\u00a0expression of immune regulating genes Increases the expression of antioxidant defenses Increases the\u00a0biodiversity of the gut microbiome, which has been shown to have protective effects against inflammation and respiratory tract infections Immune-response diseases associated with low vitamin D Vitamin D insufficiency has been associated with increased susceptibility to all types of infections. Vitamin D intake and blood levels have potential effects on disease risk, severity, and mortality. Infections that have been associated with low vitamin D levels include: Tuberculosis Influenza The\u00a0\u201cCommon Cold\u201d Leukemia Multiple Myeloma Urinary tract infections Allergies Asthma Respiratory tract infections Bacterial vaginosis COVID-19 What is Your Immune System? Being exposed to viruses, bacteria, and toxins is a part of a normal day. They are in the air we breathe, the food we eat, in the water we drink and on surfaces we touch. Your immune system has been training since you were born to protect you from the \u201cpathogens\u201d that cause infection or disease. But sometimes, infection takes hold and your immune system has to fight off those pathogens. What you may not realize is that\u00a0the nutrients in your diet directly influence the ability of your immune system to function. There are two main immune reactions. The innate immune system works to stop the initial invasion of pathogens. It is the body\u2019s first line of defense, and includes barriers such as our skin, mucous membranes, stomach acid, and microbiota, as well as the generalized inflammatory response. It is a quicker response that does not differentiate between pathogens \u2013 it just identifies that there is a problem, and works to eliminate it. The adaptive immune reaction involves a more complicated, strategized set of actions to identify which pathogen has invaded and then create immune cells specifically designed to destroy that pathogen; a process that can take days to weeks \u2013 as is often the case with viral infections. The adaptive immune response can also use antigens to \u201cremember\u201d that specific pathogen which makes future responses more efficient. Vitamin D Regulates Immune Cells and the Immune Response Vitamin D plays a crucial role in regulating immune system activity \u2013 both innate and adaptive responses. The\u00a0innate immune system is responsible for the initial defensive front\u00a0with a\u00a0central role played by phagocytes. Vitamin D stimulates expansion of these phagocytes (monocytes and macrophages), increasing their ability to fight off the virus by increasing their numbers, as well as increasing their killing capacity through stimulating the production of the anti-viral and anti-microbial protein cathelicidin. Vitamin D also acts to regulate the maturation of dendritic cells which are important for activating CD4+ T cells and in turn the rest of the immune response (see more below). Vitamin D is a potent regulator of both\u00a0cell-mediated (T cell)\u00a0and\u00a0humoral (B cell) immunity. This is a vital part of the body\u2019s defense against pathogenic invader, allowing white blood cells to recognize, bind to, and destroy pathogens \u2013 a process that relies on vitamin D to function properly. The diagram below outlines many specific ways vitamin D affects different immune cells of both the innate and adaptive immune response. Charoenngam et al.,\u00a0Endocrine Practice, 2021. Vitamin D Activates T-cells to Identify and Destroy Pathogens Vitamin D is especially critical to the activation and modulation of T cells, which help identify and destroy pathogens. In this step, vitamin D becomes an essential component to how well the immune system responds to infection. T cells are able to directly and indirectly kill infected cells, depending on which type of T cell it is. There are several types of T cells that are important to a viral immune response, including helper T Cells (CD4+ T Cells) that help identify and direct the immune response, cytotoxic T cells (CD8 T Cells) that bind to and kill infected cells, and memory T cells that remember the pathogen and how to defeat it. Important to their function are the T cell receptors, which must be activated in order for the T cells to bind to the infected cells. Helper T cells also release specific proteins called cytokines (such as interleukin) in order to orchestrate the binding and activation of the T cells, ultimately causing the destruction of the infected cells. Without sufficient vitamin D, these T cells are unable to become \u2018activated\u2019 and the immune system is more likely to become dysregulated, leading to increased inflammation and decreased efficiency of recovery. Vitamin D Regulates Cytokines and Inflammation Vitamin D acts to regulate T cell response through initiating dendritic cell tolerance. These dendritic cells in turn stimulate the increased production of T regulatory (Treg) cells and their production of anti-inflammatory interleukin (IL)-10, switching the response from being Th1-driven and pro-inflammatory to a Th2-driven anti-inflammatory response. Vitamin D acts to suppress the production of inflammatory cytokines (such as IL-1, IL-6 and IFN which are predominant in the cytokine storm characteristic of\u00a0severe COVID-19). Vitamin D also has an effect on the actions of B-cells and inhibits the production of antibodies. Overall, the immunomodulatory actions of vitamin D play a very important role in preventing the activation of an inappropriate hyper-inflammatory immune response, therefore preventing the now infamous cytokine storm. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; SmartTan.com news articles regularly report medical and scientific information to keep you abreast of current events related to UV light. This information is not intended to be used by any party to make unwarranted health claims to promote sunbed usage. Indoor tanning businesses are obligated to communicate a fair and balanced message to all clients about your products and services including the potential risks associated with indoor tanning. Contact your Smart Tan representative to find out more about what you can and can\u2019t say in your tanning salon business. \u00a9 2024 International Smart Tan Network. All rights reserved. &nbsp;","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/index.php\/immune-system-vitamin-d\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/index.php\/immune-system-vitamin-d\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/index.php\/immune-system-vitamin-d\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Vitamin-D-4-20-21.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Vitamin-D-4-20-21.jpg","width":1360,"height":1000,"caption":"Young Woman is holding Vitamin D Capsule"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/index.php\/immune-system-vitamin-d\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"How the Immune System Relies on Vitamin D"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/#website","url":"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/","name":"Smart Tan News","description":"","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/#organization","name":"Smart Tan","url":"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/smarttan.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Smart-Tan.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/smarttan.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Smart-Tan.png","width":500,"height":164,"caption":"Smart Tan"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/SmartTan","https:\/\/x.com\/SmartTan"]},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/#\/schema\/person\/722dc7049af55e0ed743d67ce9ed4819","name":"smarttannews","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/c0189f76465f47ce293287354f8076bfdb83130e65538eb34fcd2cd44e9f0e53?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/c0189f76465f47ce293287354f8076bfdb83130e65538eb34fcd2cd44e9f0e53?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/c0189f76465f47ce293287354f8076bfdb83130e65538eb34fcd2cd44e9f0e53?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"smarttannews"},"url":"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/index.php\/author\/smarttannews\/"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26067","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=26067"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26067\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":26073,"href":"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26067\/revisions\/26073"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/23402"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=26067"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=26067"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=26067"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}