Vitamin D is an important part of everyone's immune system. Yet, don't be an complete idiot to think it's the reason why people of color that are "dark skin" is the reason why they're more at risk of Covid infection, hospitalization, or death because they lack Vitamin D. Covid is a monster and it does not care about the color of your skin as shown by the ethnicity groups impacted the most by Covid that typically are lighter skin color that typically have a high Vitamin D intake. Simply, as the CDC has shown that correlates with other Covid statistics being documented around the world... Ethnic groups that typically have higher Vitamin D intake than people of color that are Dark Skin are being impacted the most by Covid. Simply, as stated, different ethnicities that are people of color are impacted via socio-economic status, access to health care, and exposure to Covid related to occupation. These are the most critical variables and I would add another factor...the groups I highlighted in red tend to live in communities that are more dense and multi-family households along with having more community gatherings (celebrations). The above reasons (variables) is why Urban Cities are hit the hardest by Covid. Another issue as I outlined in another thread...most Covid reinfections (a person getting multiple Covid infections) have been occurring in states and communities of countries that get the most Sun and typically have a higher intake of Vitamin D in their diet. Thus, as stated, there are more important variables than Vitamin D or the color of your skin although Vitamin D does help our immune system. wrbtrader
"Vitamin D insufficiency affects almost 50% of the population worldwide." "Three to five times longer exposure to make the same amount of vitamin D from sunshine" for some. Looks to be a currently accepted fact based on the common science found with simple websearches. Additional situations are problematic for D-Sufficiency as well. These are also outlined in the atteched document.
melanin - https://duckduckgo.com/?q=melanin&t=h_&ia=web https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melanin "Melanin has a variety of biological functions, such as protection of the eyes and skin from sunlight" https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/melanin What to know about melanin What is it? Function Benefits Amount in the skin Too much? Too little? Summary Melanin is a substance present in the skin that produces pigment. Each person will have a different amount of melanin in their skin. This variation is due to genetics and other factors. In this article, we discuss the function of melanin. We also look at its benefits and whether or not a person can have too much or too little of it in the skin. What is melanin? Natalie Magee/EyeEm/Getty Images Melanin is a substance in the skin that produces skin pigmentation. Scientists have identified three formsTrusted Source of melanin in humans: eumelanin pheomelanin neuromelanin Eumelanin and pheomelanin are in the epidermis, which is one of the layers of the skin. By contrast, neuromelanin is present in the brain. Melanocytes are the cells that produce eumelanin and pheomelanin. Cells known as keratinocytes then carry melanin to the skin surface. In people with dark skin, melanocytes produce more melanin than they do in people with light skin tones. What is melanin’s function? Melanin has a variety of biological functions, such asTrusted Source: pigmentation of the hair pigmentation of the skin protection of the eyes and skin from sunlight Melanocytes produce melanin in the so-called basal layer, which is the innermost layer of the epidermis. Keratinocytes then carry melanin to the skin surface. Differences in skin pigmentation between people are due to the ratio of eumelanin to pheomelanin, as well as the number of melanocytes. Pheomelanin is responsible for the pinkish color of the lips, nipples, vagina, and penis glans. Different hair colors result from different proportions of various forms of melanin. For example: Hair color Melanin type and amount black a large quantity of eumelanin brown a moderate quantity of eumelanin blond a very little quantity of eumelanin red primarily pheomelanin, with only a small quantity of eumelanin Benefits Melanin has a variety of beneficial properties, including: Protection from UV light Melanin is a UV-absorbing agentTrusted Source and is able to protect the skin against the effects of UV light on the skin’s surface. It also offers protection against UVB and blue light. Eumelanin protects the skin from UV light, whereas pheomelanin does not. As a result, people with more pheomelanin, such as those with blond or red hair and light skin, are more likely to experience sun damage. Protection against reactive oxygen species Melanin also has protective effectsTrusted Source against reactive oxygen species (ROS). These are byproducts of cellular processes within the body. A 2012 reviewTrusted Source notes that when there is an accumulation of ROS in the cells, they can cause cellular damage and stress. ROS has links to aging, cancer, and diabetes. Melanin is able to pick up ROS that form when UV light stimulates oxidative stress on the skin. Other benefits Some research on animals has also indicated other potential benefits of melanin. For example, a 2016 study on rats found that herbal melanin may be able to prevent the formation of stomach ulcers. This suggests that melanin could play a role in the protection of the gut. Additionally, previous researchTrusted Source also showed that melanin may contribute to the reduction of inflammation in the body, preventing injuries to the liver. It may also play a role in the immune system. What affects melanin levels in the skin? The amount of melanin in the skin will vary from person to person. Genetics plays a dominant role in how much melanin there is in a person’s skin. Melanocytes house melanin in cells called melanosomes. The amount of melanin in the skin is a resultTrusted Source of the quantity and distribution of melanocytes. A 2020 articleTrusted Source notes that skin pigmentation differences are due to the number of melanocytes present in the skin, as well as the ratio of eumelanin to pheomelanin. Typically, those with light skin have melanocytes that have clusters of two or three melanosomes. In contrast, those with dark skin generally have individual melanosomes that can also produce melanin for keratinocytes more quickly. Other factors that can affect the level of melanin in the skin includeTrusted Source: age UV light exposure inflammation changes in hormone levels Can a person have too much melanin, and can they decrease it? It is possible for a person to produce too much melanin within the body. Experts call it hyperpigmentation. It can occur due to certain conditions or the presence of excess melanocyte-stimulating hormone. Some factors that can increase the amount of melanin in the skin include: Addison’s disease hemochromatosis, which is a condition that causes the body to absorb too much iron from food pregnancy sun exposure Can a person lower melanin levels? Treatment options are available for hyperpigmentation. For example, daily application of sunscreen with an SPF of 50 or higher can help minimize the effects of UV light on the skin. Additionally, people can use topical treatments, such as: hydroquinone L-ascorbic acid azelaic acid corticosteroid creams retinoid creams glycolic acid A person should consult a healthcare professional before using any topical treatments, as these could have side effects, such as increased sensitivity. Learn more about treatment for hyperpigmentation here. Can a person have too little melanin? At times, a person can have too little melanin in the skin. This results in the skin becoming lighter. Healthcare professionals may refer to this as hypopigmentation. Two examples of hypopigmentation are vitiligo and albinism. Vitiligo is a skin condition that results in white patches of skin due to the loss of melanocytes. Albinism is a genetic condition that causes people to have very little or no melanin pigment in the eyes, skin, or hair. Can a person increase melanin levels? There does not appear to be a safe way to increase the amount of melanin in the skin. Although tanning is an indication that the skin is releasing melanin, it is not a safe way to increase melanin levels. The Skin Cancer FoundationTrusted Source notes that tanning increases the risk of developing skin cancer. Learn more about increasing melanin levels here. However, a person can consume certain nutrients to help the skin defend itself from UV damage. According to 2018 researchTrusted Source, antioxidants may have the potential to increase the amount of melanin in the skin. Melanocytes create melanin through the process of melanogenesis, which is also an oxidative process that produces ROS. Antioxidants are able to relieve this oxidative stress and reduce cellular damage. Foods high in antioxidants includeTrusted Source: garlic bay leaf cinnamon red chili pomegranate Depending on what is causing the hypopigmentation, there are some treatment options available. For example, vitiligo treatment can include using sunscreen and phototherapy. Medical News Today Newsletter Knowledge is power. Get our free daily newsletter. Dig deeper into the health topics you care about most. Subscribe to our facts-first newsletter today. Your privacy is important to us Summary Melanin is a substance that melanocytes produce in the skin surface, which results in skin pigment. Each person will have a different amount of melanin in their skin. The amount of melanocytes and the ratio of the forms of melanin in the skin dictate how much melanin is present. Some conditions and environmental factors can decrease or increase the amount of melanin in the skin. Additionally, methods are available to either lower or increase melanin levels in the skin. However, a person should consult a healthcare professional before considering any treatment options.
I'm a strong believer that if a person wants to increase their Vitamin D to help improve their immune system response to diseases...they should do such via foods rich in vitamin D instead of via supplements. https://www.eatthis.com/vitamin-d-recipes/ Yet, at the same time...it doesn't imply one should ignore other Covid preventative measures in a Pandemic because it's a common mistake for people to think increasing their vitamin supplements will compensate / substitute for their inability to follow public health guidelines. ---------- Vitamin D may not protect against COVID-19, as previously suggested News Increasing vitamin D levels does not protect against COVID-19 susceptibility and severity Published: 4Jun2021 While previous research early in the pandemic suggested that vitamin D cuts the risk of contracting COVID-19, a new study from McGill University finds there is no genetic evidence that the vitamin works as a protective measure against the coronavirus. "Vitamin D supplementation as a public health measure to improve outcomes is not supported by this study. Most importantly, our results suggest that investment in other therapeutic or preventative avenues should be prioritized for COVID-19 randomized clinical trials," say the authors. To assess the relationship between vitamin D levels and COVID-19 susceptibility and severity, the researchers conducted a Mendelian randomization study using genetic variants strongly associated with increased vitamin D levels. They looked at genetic variants of 14,134 individuals with COVID-19 and over 1.2 million individuals without the disease from 11 countries. In the study published in PLOS Medicine, the researchers found that among people who did develop the disease, there was no difference between vitamin D levels and a likelihood of being hospitalized or falling severely ill. Studying the effects of vitamin D Early in the pandemic, many researchers were studying the effects of vitamin D, which plays a critical role in a healthy immune system. But there is still not enough evidence that taking supplements can prevent or treat COVID-19 in the general population. “Most vitamin D studies are very difficult to interpret since they cannot adjust for the known risk factors for severe COVID-19 such as older age or having chronic diseases, which are also predictors of low vitamin D,” says co-author Guillaume Butler-Laporte, a physician and a fellow under the supervision of Professor Brent Richards at McGill University. “Therefore, the best way to answer the question of the effect of vitamin D would be through randomized trials, but these are complex and resource intensive, and take a long time during a pandemic,” he says. By using a Mendelian randomization, the researchers say they were able to decrease potential bias from these known risk factors and provide a clearer picture of the relationship between vitamin D and COVID-19. However, researchers noted that their study had some important limitations. It did not account for truly vitamin D deficient patients, consequently it remains possible that they may benefit from supplementation for COVID-19 related protection and outcomes. Additionally, the study only analyzed genetic variants from individuals of European ancestry. Future studies are needed to explore the relationship with vitamin D and COVID-19 outcomes in other populations, say the researchers. “In the past Mendelian randomization has consistently predicted results of large, expensive, and timely vitamin D trials. Here, this method does not show clear evidence that vitamin D supplementation would have a large effect on COVID-19 outcomes," says Butler-Laporte, who is a microbiologist and an expert in infectious diseases. https://www.mcgill.ca/newsroom/chan...-against-covid-19-previously-suggested-331358 wrbtrader
All those recipes are too time-consuming. Here's the easy one. 1/4 pound of salmon. 1 raw egg. 2 cups of whole milk. 1 5,000 IU D3 tablet Put in blender and hit the puree' button for 1 minute. Add nutmeg for flavor, and your salmon smoothie is complete. It may not prevent you from getting COVID, but you will be rickets-free for a year.
I eat my salmon alone...not in a damn blender Regardless, I make a daily protein drink when I'm training (rowing)...very similar to the way Hunter makes his protein drink. I have a pill grinder that I ground my Vitamin D, C and Zinc. I then pour them into my protein drink for mixing in the blender...3x per week in training season. Hunter doesn't throw D, C, and Zinc in his. @ https://www.instagram.com/hunterlabrada/?hl=fr wrbtrader
Lol, you wimpy lala! I used to eat raw ground chuck whenever grandma came around to roll the meatballs. I'd steal some from the slab and chow down. We all lived. Geez, you folks are so....OMG IT'S GOING TO KILL ME FOREVER EVERYONE IS GOING TO DIE!