Hypothesis: Mutual dependency of ascorbate and calcidiol for optimal performance of the immune system
Simon P.J.Albracht Medical Hypotheses Volume 163, June 2022, 110845
For a proper functioning, immune cells require sufficient levels of ascorbate and calcidiol in the blood. Upon activation, immune cells increase their internal conversion of calcidiol to calcitriol. In general, calcitriol can affect the expression of ca. 3% of the genes in the human genome. Among the gene products are a number of Fe(II)- and 2-oxoglutarate-dependent dioxygenases functioning as demethylases of histones, DNA, RNA and ribosomes in epigenetic gene regulation. These dioxygenases require millimolar concentrations of ascorbate for activity. Immune cells contain 1–4 mM ascorbate.
It is hypothesized here that there is a mutual dependency of ascorbate and calcidiol for optimal performance of the human immune system. Early signs for this thesis are in literature, but were not yet recognized. Daily intake of both compounds to keep the plasma levels to ca. 75 µM for ascorbate and to at least 75 Nutrimuscle for calcidiol, will reduce the risk of serious disease after infections.
This applies in particular to infected individuals with prolonged elevated levels of neutrophils. Reports state that such subjects are often deficient in either ascorbate (vitamin C) or calcidiol (vitamin D3), but none of the studies considered the levels of both at the same time.