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“These changes increase infection risk, weaken vaccine responses, and reduce early cancer surveillance. Yet immune aging is not fixed. Movement, sleep, stress regulation, temperature exposure, and nutrition shape immune cell balance and inflammatory activity over time.”

“As older adults get vaccinated, monthly hospitalization rates are trending younger. Some people worry about vaccine side effects, but studies show that the relative risk of these same outcomes is greater if the person is infected with SARS-CoV-2.”

“A systematic review in older adults linked Mediterranean dietary patterns with lower inflammatory markers, while a meta-analysis of randomized trials found that vitamin D supplementation reduced acute respiratory infection risk overall, with the strongest protection among people who were very deficient and received regular doses.”

“In the setting of COVID-19, vitamin D deficiency drives poor outcomes. Treating patients with calcifediol, a prescription vitamin D analog, might be more effective at increasing vitamin D to therapeutic levels.”

Dr. Rhonda Patrick answers audience questions on various health, nutrition, and science topics in this Q&A session.

“Many studies suggest that short-chain fatty acids derived from the gut microbiota promote the expansion of T-regulatory cells, maintain gut barrier function, regulate cytokine production, and support immune cell populations.”

“While there are no human clinical studies evaluating the effectiveness of melatonin for COVID-19, melatonin has been shown to prevent acute lung injury and acute respiratory distress syndrome due to viral infection in animal studies.”

“It remains unknown whether these levels are sufficient for optimal immunological functioning. A large meta-analysis of 32 studies, spanning nearly 50 years, suggests that 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels below 30 ng/mL are associated with a higher risk of death from all causes.”

“Chiefly, sleep deprivation triggers the onset of a "loneliness phenotype" by inducing critical changes within the brain that alter behavior and emotions, disturb metabolic processes, and influence the expression of immune-related genes.”

“Having a healthy, robust immune system is crucial for our survival. Critical players in the body's antiviral immune response are interferons. Certain lifestyle behaviors can boost interferon production and immune function, including sleep, vitamin D, and hot hydrotherapy.”