Gallo’s team has now discovered that injury stimulates skin cells called keratinocytes, which surround the wound, to increase the production of vitamin D3 and that this in turn increases the expression of genes (CD14 and TLR2) that detect microbes. These genes, together with active vitamin D3, called 1,25D3, then lead to more cathelicidin. In both mice and humans, a deficiency in cathelicidin allows infections to develop more readily.

Thus, a deficiency in active D3 may compromise the body’s innate immune system, thus making one more vulnerable to microbial infection. The researchers are beginning clinical trials at UCSD Medical Center with both oral and topical vitamin D3 to determine if vitamin D3 can improve natural immune defenses in healthy volunteers as well as in patients with disorders in antimicrobial peptide production.

Post from: Blisstree

Vitamin D3 Protects Skin Wounds from Infection

A new study presented by researchers from the Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) during the the annual meeting of the American Chemical Society in San Francisco last week suggests that a group of tannins called proanthocyanidins found primarily in cranberries may affect potentially pathogenic bacteria in three ways:

• They change the shape of the bacteria from rods to spheres.
• They alter their cell membranes.
• They make it difficult for bacteria to make contact with cells, or from latching on to them should they get close enough.

Collectively, this makes is difficult for bacteria to adhere to the host cells and iniate infection. Just how much cranberry juice does one need to reap the benefits? Recommended doses range from 90 to 480 milliliters (3 to 16 ounces) of cranberry cocktail twice daily, or 15 to 30 milliliters of unsweetened 100% cranberry juice daily. See my previous entry on cranberry juice and bladder infections for more details.

Post from: Blisstree

Cranberry Juice Helps Fight Infections, But How?