Vitamin D and Omega-3 Supplements Reduce Risk of Autoimmune Diseases Marta Kleber - Noticiero Vallarta
go to original February 25, 2022

Diet and Autoimmune Diseases: How Vitamin D3 and Omega-3 Fatty Acids Play a Role (Sean Hashmi, MD)

We know their anti-inflammatory properties, including against COVID. Vitamin D and omega-3 would also be interesting to reduce the risk of developing an autoimmune disease, at least if we believe a scientific study in the British Medical Journal.

The study authors, researchers from Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School in Boston, USA, say the clinical significance of these findings is high. "Given that these are well-tolerated nontoxic supplements and no other effective therapies are known to reduce rates of autoimmune disease."

Remember that an autoimmune disease occurs when the immune system is dysregulated, to the point of mistakenly attacking certain cells in the body. Multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, type 1 diabetes and psoriasis are autoimmune diseases.

The researchers here tested the effects of vitamin D-based dietary supplements in association or not with fish omega-3s on the occurrence of autoimmune diseases in 25,871 U.S. adults (including 51% of women, and whose average age was 67 years). Participants filled in their age, ethnicity, region of residence, income, education levels, lifestyle, weight, medical history, diet and, of course, their dietary supplement intake. Blood levels of vitamin D and omega-3 fatty acids were measured.

Several participant groups were randomly formed:

  • Those who received vitamin D alone (2000 IU/day) or a similar placebo;
  • Those who received omega-3 fatty acids (1000 mg/day) or a similar placebo.

Verdict: autoimmune disease was diagnosed in 123 participants in the vitamin D group, compared with 155 in the placebo group, i.e., a 22% reduced risk. 130 people were diagnosed in the omega-3 group, compared to 148 in the placebo group, a risk reduction of 15%. The duration of taking the supplements would also be an important factor: the risk reduction would increase even more as one continues to take these supplements.

For the scientists, this study is "the first direct evidence" that daily supplementation with vitamin D and/or omega-3 fatty acids reduces the incidence of autoimmune diseases, with a more pronounced effect after two years of supplementation. These two supplements would act among other things by reducing inflammatory markers in the body.

Remember that you can supply yourself with vitamin D and omega-3 other than through supplements, in particular by regularly consuming oily fish (sardines, mackerel, trout, etc.), vegetable oils (linseed, walnuts, rapeseed, etc.) and by exposing yourself to the sun for 10 minutes a week.

See the original at Noticiero Vallarta