So now that we’re at the end of September and at the end of our focus on the immune system and Endometriosis, I need to mention one more immune-boosting nutrient.

I didn’t mention it in this article because although some foods contain this nutrient, the body doesn’t absorb it very well from food if there are digestive problems - which most women with Endometriosis have.

One guess what this nutrient might be …

Yes, vitamin D.

Firstly, a fun fact about Vitamin D: it’s actually not a vitamin, but a hormone!

Vitamin D plays an important role in bone growth, by carrying calcium to the bones. And it helps to regulate the immune system.

Studies on the role of vitamin D in the immune response have shown that T cells and B cells (key cells involved in the immune response) are able to process and respond to vitamin D.  That means that vitamin D can help protect against infection.

And even more important is the fact that vitamin D deficiency seems to contribute to autoimmune diseases like inflammatory bowel disease.

In light of the inflammation that underpins your Endometriosis, healthy levels of vitamin D are needed to help ‘calm down’ the growth of T and B cells; reduce the production of inflammatory cytokines; and increase the production of anti-inflammatory cytokines.

So how does the body get the right levels of the immune-boosting nutrient vitamin D?

When the sun hits unprotected skin (if you’ve got sunscreen on, this will not happen as easily), the ultraviolet light is turned to previtamin D3 in your skin. Body heat then creates a version that is transported via your blood stream to the liver. In the liver it is turned into another form of previtamin D which goes to the kidneys where active vitamin D is produced. And if the body produces too much vitamin D, it gets stored in fat cells.

Quite a bit of a process, isn’t it?

Now, you may or may not be vitamin D deficient. Surprisingly, considering the fact that we live in a country with lots of sunshine, a large percentage of people is vitamin D deficient. Because they don’t spend enough time outside in the sun, or when they do they are ‘covered’ up with clothes and sunscreen to prevent skin cancer.

So should you then take a supplement?

Unless you have been tested and shown to have vitamin D deficiency, no. Too much vitamin D creates high levels of calcium in the blood which can lead to stones.

Also, because of your digestive problems, absorbing vitamin D from food or supplements may not be very effective.

No, my first suggestion is to get some sunshine, around 10-20 minutes each day on unprotected skin or if you use sunscreen, longer. Allow your skin to do what your digestive system is not able to.

If you are worried that you might be vitamin D deficient, it may be a good idea to get tested. You can go to you GP to organise a test, or contact me for a referral form.

And if you want to improve your vitamin D absorption from food, why not join the 5-day Online Gut Health For Endometriosis Challenge?

The focus for October's posts is Gut Health. We'll look at what 'leaky gut' is; why it contributes to your Endometriosis symptoms, and how you can start to heal your gut. Of course, joining the 5-day Gut Health for Endometriosis Challenge will be a great way to get you started!