Vitamin D and Aging: Central Role of Immunocompetence – Carlberg Jan 2024

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The Study

Nutrients 2024, 16(3), 398; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16030398
Carsten Carlberg 1,2,*ORCID and Eunike Velleuer 3,4ORCID
1 Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research, Polish Academy of Sciences, PL-10-748 Olsztyn, Poland
2 School of Medicine, Institute of Biomedicine, University of Eastern Finland, FI-70211 Kuopio, Finland
3 Department for Cytopathology, Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, D-40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
4 Department for Pediatric Hemato-Oncology, Helios Children’s Hospital, D-47805 Krefeld, Germany

(This article belongs to the Section Nutrigenetics and Nutrigenomics)

The pro-hormone vitamin D3 is an important modulator of both innate and adaptive immunity since its biologically active metabolite 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25(OH)2D3) regulates via the transcription factor VDR (vitamin D receptor) the epigenome and transcriptome of human immune cells and controls in this way the expression of hundreds of vitamin D target genes. Since the myeloid linage of hematopoiesis is epigenetically programmed by VDR in concert with the pioneer factors PU.1 (purine-rich box 1) and CEBPα (CCAAT/enhancer binding protein α), monocytes, macrophages, and dendritic cells are the most vitamin D-sensitive immune cell types.
The central role of the immune system in various aging-related diseases suggests that immunocompetence describes not only the ability of an individual to resist pathogens and parasites but also to contest non-communicative diseases and the process of aging itself.
In this review, we argue that the individual-specific responsiveness to vitamin D relates to a person’s immunocompetence via the epigenetic programming function of VDR and its ligand 1,25(OH)2D3 during hematopoiesis as well as in the periphery.
This may provide a mechanism explaining how vitamin D protects against major common diseases and, in parallel, promotes healthy aging.

Conclusion suggests daily Vitamin D3 = 40 IU/kg (3,200 IU for 80 kg adult)

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VitaminDWiki – Seniors contains:

431 items in Seniors

see also
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Mortality category listing has 320 items along with related searches

Overview Osteoporosis and vitamin D
Restless Legs Syndrome dramatically reduced by vitamin D, etc
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Nursing homes and Vitamin D - many studies
13 reasons why many seniors need more vitamin D (both dose and level) - July 2023 has:

1. Senior skin produces 4X less Vitamin D for the same sun intensity
2. Seniors have fewer vitamin D receptor genes as they age
   Receptors are needed to get Vitamin D in blood actually into the cells
3. Many other Vitamin D genes decrease with age
4. Since many gene activations are not detected by a blood test,
   more Vitamin D is often needed, especially by seniors
5. Seniors are indoors more than when they were younger
   not as agile, weaker muscles; frail, no longer enjoy hot temperatures
6. Seniors wear more clothing outdoors than when younger
   Seniors also are told to fear skin cancer & wrinkles
7. Seniors often take various drugs which end up reducing vitamin D
   Some reductions are not detected by a vitamin D test of the blood
   statins, chemotherapy, anti-depressants, blood pressure, beta-blockers, etc
8. Seniors often have one or more diseases that consume vitamin D
   osteoporosis, diabetes, Multiple Sclerosis, Cancer, ...
9. Seniors generally put on weight as they age - and a heavier body requires more vitamin D
10. Seniors often (40%) have fatty livers – which do not process vitamin D as well
11. Reduced stomach acid means less Magnesium is available to get vitamin D into the cells
12. Vitamin D is not as bioavailable in senior intestines
13. Seniors with poorly functioning kidneys do not process vitamin D as well
14. Glutathione (which increases Vitamin D getting to cells) decreases with age
       Seniors category has 431 items

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VitaminDWiki - 8 studies in both categories Seniors and Immunity

This list is automatically updated

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Might be able to “square the curve” with Vitamin D (live both longer AND Healthier)

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7 of the many studies by Carlberg in VitaminDWiki

Vitamin D Nutrigenomics - High, Medium, and Low Responders - March 2019

Huge variation in response to vitamin D supplementation – personal vitamin D response index – Dec 2016
   Daily dose of 3,200 IU

Vitamin D - A master example of nutrigenomics – April 2023

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38+ VitaminDWiki pages have AGING in the title

This list is automatically updated

• How Not To Age book (diet, exercise, supplements) Dr. Greger - Dec 2023