Beyond Bone – The importance of vitamin D for immune function in swine

A properly functioning immune system is critical for animal health and survivability. Successful immunity requires a network of cells and molecules working together against invading foreign antigens, and with exposure to challenges occurring daily, it’s an ongoing process. The host defends the body against such challenges by activating both adaptive and innate systems. Vitamin D helps regulate both types of immunity. It appears that vitamin D helps maintain self-tolerance by dampening overly eager adaptive immune responses, while enhancing protective innate immune responses. Though the benefits of vitamin D in preventing and treating metabolic bone disease are well known in swine, its role in supporting the immune system is becoming better appreciated and will be further outlined here.