Vitamin D deficiency has made headlines again with a November 2009 study published in the journal Pediatrics concluding that millions of US children aged one to 11 may have suboptimal levels of vitamin D. Many other recent studies indicate that vitamin D3, cholecalciferol, may be more vital than previously thought for boosting natural immunity to a host of diseases and conditions including colds and flu, osteoporosis, cancer, high blood pressure, cholesterol, MS, ear infections and other conditions.
Vitamin D and Influenza – Prevent Flu Naturally?
John Jacob Cannell MD, executive director of the Vitamin D Council, became interested in whether vitamin D can protect against the flu naturally in April of 2005 when an influenza epidemic ran through the maximum-security facility for the criminally insane where he worked as psychiatrist. As many patients fell ill, multiple wards in the hospital were quarantined in an effort to prevent the spread of the flu, but Cannell noted that although wards all around his were quarantined, his ward remained free of the virus.
In addition to psychiatric medications, Cannell also had his patients, who had all tested low, on 2000 units of vitamin D daily. He began to wonder if vitamin D can prevent flu and if was it doing so in his patients.
He began researching the studies previously published on flu and vitamin D and in collaboration with several other scientists and researchers subsequently published a paper analyzing vitamin D's potential protective effects against the flu in the journal Epidemiology and Infection.
He became convinced of vitamin D's ability to prevent the flu naturally and also vitamin D's positive role in many other diseases and conditions and founded the Vitamin D Council to further study vitamin D's role in natural flu prevention and its effects on many other medical conditions.
Vitamin D and Swine Flu – Natural Protection Against Swine Flu?
In summer 2009, in the midst of the swine flu pandemic, Dr. Cannell was contacted by Norris Glick, MD, who had an experience similar to Dr. Cannell's in the April 2005 flu outbreak. Dr. Cannell posted Dr Glick's correspondence on the Vitamin D Council's website.
Dr. Glick relates that he works in Wisconsin at a long-term care facility for people with developmental disabilities where vitamin D levels have been monitored for all patients for several years and patients have been supplemented with vitamin D as needed. In June 2009, in the midst of an H1N1 outbreak in Wisconsin, two residents of the approximately 275 at the facility developed H1N1. One was transferred in already infected with H1N1 and one was a long-term resident.
In contrast, during the outbreak in Wisconsin, 60 of the 800 staff members at the facility developed influenza-like illness or tested positive for H1N1. An additional 43 staff members called in sick with flu-like symptoms.
Over 10 times more flu cases were reported in the staff population at the facility than in the residents there, suggesting that vitamin D may protect against H1N1.
Is Vitamin D the Antibiotic Vitamin?
Vitamin D has been shown in multiple studies to increase the body's production of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs). These AMPs rapidly destroy the cell walls of invading viruses and bacteria. Vitamin D has also been shown to reduce inflammation.
The body forms vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) when skin is exposed directly to the sun (not through sunscreen or glass) in late spring, summer, and early fall, depending on latitude. It is found naturally in fairly small amounts in foods including salmon and other fish and eggs. Vitamin D is added to milk and some other foods, but again in fairly small amounts. In the winter, vitamin D3 supplements and UV light therapy may be the only ways to achieve optimal vitamin D levels.
Vitamin D Sources - Where to Buy Vitamin D
In the summer, the best vitamin D source is free – sunshine on skin – but in winter in temperate or colder regions the angle of the sun is too low to allow the body to produce much vitamin D.
There are few foods naturally rich in vitamin D, but some fish do have appreciable amounts. Milk and other foods are fortified with vitamin D, too, but it would be very difficult to reach optimal vitamin D levels through diet alone.
Vitamin D3 supplements (cholecalciferol) are the best way for many people to get extra vitamin D. Vitamin D supplements are readily available in drug stores, grocery stores and health food stores. Consumers can buy vitamin D supplements online, too.
Other Natural Remedies for Cold and Flu
Readers interested in other natural remedies for flu and colds might like to also read the article, "Can Black Elderberry Extract Prevent Swine Flu?"
Sources:
Jonathan M. Mansbach, MD, Adit A. Ginde, MD, MPH and Carlos A. Camargo, Jr, MD, DrPH. Serum 25-Hydroxyvitamin D Levels Among US Children Aged 1 to 11 Years: Do Children Need More Vitamin D? PEDIATRICS Vol. 124 No. 5 November 2009, pp. 1404-1410 (doi:10.1542/peds.2008-2041)
J. J. CANNELL, R. VIETH, J. C. UMHAU, M. F. HOLICK, W. B. GRANT, S. MADRONICH, C. F. GARLAND and E. GIOVANNUCCI (2006). Epidemic influenza and vitamin D. Epidemiology and Infection, 134 , pp 1129-1140 doi:10.1017/S0950268806007175
GINDE AA, MANSBACH JM, CAMARGO CA Jr. Association between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D level and upper respiratory tract infection in the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Archives of Internal Medicine. 2009 Feb 23;169(4):384-90.PMID: 19237723 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
Mary Robinson Crews - Mary is a freelance writer who holds a BA in Journalism from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She has worked as a music ...
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