February 4th, 2011 By: S.L. Baker Besides protecting from
cancer, obesity, autoimmune diseases and cardiovascular
problems, vitamin D helps build strong bones. And scientists
have found this health building vitamin has a remarkable impact
on the immune system, too. Vitamin D, it turns out, is necessary
for the production of anti-microbial peptides, substances that
fight off infection-causing bacteria, fungi, and viruses when
these pathogens try to move into organs and through mucous
membranes. In fact, previous research has shown adequate vitamin
D can help prevent colds and flu as well as serious lung
infections, including tuberculosis. Now Swedish researchers from
the Karolinska Institute and Karolinska University Hospital in
Stockholm have evidence that higher vitamin D levels offer
especially strong protection against another common health
problem — urinary tract infections (UTIs). In their new study,
just published in the journal PLoS One, the scientists wrote:
“In the light of the rapidly growing proble