The Power of Vitamin D: Warding Off Infectious Diseases

As we approach the winter months, we must continue to keep ourselves healthier when warding off infectious diseases, especially the H1N1 virus.

In a 2006 study, Dr. John Cannell, Director of the Vitamin D Council, published his findings regarding a study of hospitalized psychiatric patients. Dr. Cannell determined that “lower vitamin D blood levels during the winter can account for the increased transmissibility of influenza virus among children and adults.” His study showed that “vitamin D stimulates the immune system and disease-fighting cells, called macrophages and T cells. The cells create proteins that have antiviral and antimicrobial properties; macrophages and T cells have vitamin D receptors (VDRs) on them, enhancing their functions.” Dr. Cannell administered 2,000 IUs of vitamin D to a controlled group. These patients mingled with other patients in the hospital who were not given the vitamin D supplement. The outcome was that vitamin D prevented patients, in the controlled group, from getting the flu.

The study did not account for other factors which might have contributed to the prevention of influenza, i.e. the healthiness of the patient prior to taking vitamin D including the amount of sleep/rest, exercise, and diet of those in the controlled group.

The daily recommended dose is 2,000 IUs of vitamin D to prevent catching the flu. I might add that in order to maintain your personal optimal health, you should exercise at least three times weekly for 30 minutes each time, get plenty of rest, drink lots of water, and eat a colorful variety of fruits and vegetables daily. In addition, you should try to expose as much skin as possible to natural sunlight during the winter months in order to replenish vitamin D in its natural form to sustain your personal optimal health.

The bottom line is that vitamin D is not the miracle food supplement and cure all for infectious diseases which includes influenza. It may be used as prevention to infectious diseases, but a number of factors must be considered, especially during this season, when keeping healthy as mentioned above.

References:

Swine Flu Prevention and Treatment, Can Vitamin D help

? By Eric Madrid, MD.

Is Vitamin D Your Best Protection from Swine Flu? By Monica Reinagel, MS.