HOWEVER...keep reading! Estrogen (17beta-estradiol) has downfalls!
Is your blood vitamin D level within normal range?
If not, if you are deficient, consider supplementing D3 with K2 in addition to taking a good form of Omega 3 fatty acids.
They work in synergy.
HOWEVER...
In lyme, some suggest Vitamin D supplementation in any form is harmful.
Our immune cells have a receptor for inactive vitamin D3 (in circulation) called VDR that permits inactive D3 -> active D3. It is present on MANY cells.
Then...
"Vitamin D suppresses the immune system."
Which...may involve EBV reactivation because...
Breakdown of inactive and active D3 (catabolism) in the liver is
regulated by CYP3A4.
antiretrovirals (HAART), causes
up-regulation of CYP3A4.
This leads to
decreased levels of 25(OH)D and 1,25(OH)2D,
often resulting in clinically significant osteomalacia.
(Inactive and active form of D3 decreased = refers to a softening of your bones, often caused by a vitamin D deficiency).
So, if EBV is re-activated due to lyme,
and the ***anti-retrovirals***
upregulate liver CYP3A4 this
-> less D3 - inactive and active forms =
protection from lyme and EBV?
But at a cost = osteoporosis = decreased bone strength increases the risk of a broken bone?
BTW...
DOES administration of the CYP3A4 *inhibitor*, fluconazole (Diflucan) to combat Candida
*increase* D3 levels?
Remember UPREGULATING CYP3A4 = down does inactive and active forms of D3 which can be accomplished by anti-retrovirals.
"Vitamin D receptors are expressed on EBV infected B cells, antigen presenting cells and
activated lymphocytes, and the bioactive vitamin D
metabolite
dihydroxyvitamin D3
suppresses antibody production
and T cell proliferation and skews T cells towards a less detrimental Th2 phenotype."
Resveratrol strengthens bones and may help prevent osteoporosis.
"Taken together, our data suggest that E2 (17beta-estradiol) binds to receptors compartmentalized to membranal caveolar domains in HT29 and MCF-7 cells, inducing ERK 1/2 activation and transcriptional activity,
which finally ***results in upregulation of expression of the VDR gene."***