How Do Vitamin D & Protein Work Together?

Vitamin D plays a crucial role in the your body's everyday functioning. Vitamin D is produced when the skin receives direct sunlight. Food sources of vitamin D include salmon, mackerel and vitamin D-fortified products, like the milk you buy at a typical supermarket. Vitamin D works in conjunction with minerals and proteins to enhance physiological health. Consult your doctor if you are concerned about your vitamin D levels, and before taking a supplement of any kind.

Calcium

Vitamin D functions to aid in calcium, magnesium and phosphate absorption via the intestines. This process enhances the breakdown of minerals and bone development. The intestines cannot absorb calcium effectively without vitamin D, which triggers the proteins to carry calcium from the intestine and into the bloodstream. Once calcium enters the bloodstream, the mineral is readily available for strengthening hair, nails, teeth, bones and cartilage.

Cancer

The active form of vitamin D, known as calcitriol, stimulates a specific protein hampering the growth of cancer cells, according to the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey. Malignant breast tissue cells remained stagnant after this protein targeted affected areas, according to a study published in 2009 in "The Journal of Biological Chemistry." Vitamin D activates the protein, which then attacks the mutated cells and inhibits cell growth. High serum levels of vitamin D correlate with a more favorable prognosis among individuals with breast cancer.

Mold Allergies

According to research published in 2010 in the "Journal of Clinical Investigation," vitamin D may help prevent and treat mold allergies among individuals with asthma and cystic fibrosis. Individuals with mold allergies experienced an overactive immune response directly related to a protein called OX40L. Low vitamin-D levels correlated with the increased immune response. When researchers raised participants' vitamin D levels, they found that the protein activating the allergic response to mold significantly decreased while the protein enhancing allergy tolerance increased.

Chronic Inflammation

Inflammation is often the body's response to an infection or trauma. Chronic inflammation can be debilitating. Vitamin D binds with a protein, known as the vitamin D-binding protein, which blocks the agents responsible for the initiation of chronic inflammatory disorders, Stony Brook University explains. By regulating levels of vitamin D, health providers can stimulate the protein to prevent inflammatory mechanisms.