PHARMA NORD ADVERTORIAL
winter illness is coming!
IS yOUR ImmUNE SySTEm READy fOR ThE COlD wAR? S
ure, winter technically describes December to february, but in the Uk and Ireland at least,
winter already feels like it's here. Darker evenings and the chance of snow might have a certain charm, but there's nothing charming about colder temperatures bringing about a rise in colds, flu and other infections. Cold and flu season seems to get earlier each year, but thankfully there's much you can do to help bolster your immunity. here we take a look at some of the weapons you can use to help fight the cold war
Beta glucans 1,3 1,6 we've all heard that person who says: “I've already had this year’s cold/flu so I won't catch it again” They're referring to their ‘adaptive immunity’ – this is the immunity that remembers (involving specialized cells known as B cells and T cells).
Then there are those who say “I'll be fine, I almost never pick up colds and flus”. These are the people who have a strong ‘innate’ immune system.
14 - PhARmACy IN fOCUS
Before our adaptive immunity, we have a first line of defence against bacterial, viral and parasitic invaders- the innate immune system. This includes many elements working together for defence:
• Physical barriers such as the respiratory tract, eyelashes and skin
• Defence mechanisms such as sweat and tears
• Immune responses such as inflammation
• Innate blood cells/white blood cells
white blood cells play especially important roles in fighting infections, such as digesting foreign invaders (phagocytes), triggering appropriate inflammation (mast cells) and preventing the spread of infection (natural killer cells). The activity of these cells is usually triggered by an infection, but a nutritional supplement exists which has shown the ability to trigger the innate cells early - and that is 1,3 1,6 beta glucans.
Not to be confused with oat beta glucans, 1,3 1,6 beta glucans are a specific purified yeast derivative. Beta glucans do not cause harm but still trigger an unspecific immune response, priming the immune system in the same way as for a harmful flu or cold – but without the symptoms. In research, this immunity boost reduces the chance of catching a cold or a flu, including through the cold autumn or winter months which represent peak cold and flu season(1, 2)
.
Vitamin D3 The body produces vitamin D provided there is an adequate amount of UVB light from sun exposure, meaning our intakes during the darker months are typically negligible. Other factors which limit this exposure include age, skin pigmentation, regular use of sunscreen and covering up of the skin for religious reasons.
Vitamin D is then transported to the liver after absorption where (in the
form of calcidiol), it is stored for future use. Calcidiol (25-hydroxy D) is sent all over the body where different tissues (including the kidneys) convert it to activated vitamin D3 (calcitriol) needed for a healthy immune system.
Vitamin D insufficiency is a global problem. A review published in the journal of the American Osteopathic Association (may 2017) found that almost 1 billion individuals worldwide may have insufficient or deficient levels of vitamin D (3)
.
Insufficiency is subtle, meaning many of us need more vitamin D without realizing it, with no obvious signs to indicate a problem.
So, how can boosting levels of vitamin D help during the winter months?
Fewer Colds Vitamin D has also become incredibly popular due to its impactful ability to ward off colds and flu. A meta- analysis published in the British medical journal (Bmj) concluded that
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