The Swine Flu and the complications associated with it are concerning people worldwide. Officials are warning against a possible epidemic. However, could vitamin D supplementation also protect one from contracting the swine flu? Studies have shown that those with higher vitamin D blood levels are less likely to contract the typical avian influenza most of us are familiar with. This is why most get the flu in the winter and spring, when sunlight and blood vitamin D levels are at their lowest. I suspect the results will be similar for the swine flu.
Fortunately, summer is approaching and the sun will be generating more vitamin D in people as the UV-B light rays get absorbed by our skin. I expect this epidemic will be short lived, pray for a heat wave as it may be the best medicine. I recommend at least 2,000 IU daily of a vitamin D supplement also for possible prevention.
Below is an excerpt from Vitamin D Prescription by Eric Madrid MD- Purchase Book: Vitamin D Prescription- The Healing Power of the Sun at Amazon.com
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Influenza
Head colds, influenza infections, and tuberculosis affect millions of people annually worldwide. Cold and flu viruses commonly infect more people during the winter season. For this reason, many healthcare professionals recommend that those at risk, such as senior citizens and diabetics, take their flu shots annually. As a matter of fact, this is the recommendation of most professional medical associations, including the American Medical Association. Patients flock to their doctors and pharmacies starting in early November asking for the “lifesaving vaccine.” They continue to ask up until about late February.
Our parents and grandparents told us, “Make sure you put on your jacket before you go out or you’re going to catch a cold.” Does cold weather really make people sick? I thought it was only viruses and bacteria that make people sick. At least that is what I learned in medical school. What does cold weather have to do with catching a cold? Many assume that this is an old wives tale.
For years, the “intelligent” countered this tale with the assumption that upper respiratory viruses are passed along more during the cold months because people stay indoors more, allowing more intimate contact, and therefore sharing germs. Whether or not one wore a jacket was irrelevant.
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“Vitamin D supplementation could prevent one from developing the flu” |
In 1965, Dr. Edgar Hope-Simpson (1908-2003), a general practitioner, was given credit for proposing that the shingles infection was caused by reactivation of the chicken pox virus. In 1981, he proposed that solar radiation (sunshine) could protect against the flu virus.
In 2006, Dr. John Cannell (Vitamin D expert and psychiatrist at Atascadero State Hospital, California) and colleagues published a paper showing evidence that lower vitamin D blood levels during the winter can account for the increased transmissibility of the influenza virus among children and adults. This, along with numerous other studies about vitamin D, started a paradigm shift.
Studies show 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. Further, we know that macrophages and T cells have vitamin D receptors (VDRs) on them, enhancing their functions. Dr. Cannell became interested in vitamin D research when he noted that patients in his psychiatric ward who took 2,000 IU of vitamin D did not get the flu, while the patients in other wards (who did not take vitamin D) did. The patients intermingled with each other so cross exposure was certain. The study showed that vitamin D supplementation could prevent one from developing the flu.
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Purchase Book: Vitamin D Prescription- The Healing Power of the Sun at Amazon.com
22 responses so far ↓
Swine Flu Symptoms- How to Protect Yourself and your Family « HealthAndSurvival.com // April 27, 2009 at 1:52 am |
[...] A study by Dr. Cannell from California also showed that vitamin D can help prevent influenza infections by strenghtening the immune system. A daily intake of 2,000 IU daily should be taken. A dose of up to 10,000 IU of vitamin D daily for a few days may also be helpful. Read more about vitamin D and swine flu. [...]
boomel // April 27, 2009 at 3:39 pm |
no sun in mexico— poor argument for vitamin
Eric Madrid MD // April 28, 2009 at 12:43 am |
actually, Mexico city has high air pollution/ozone which filters uvb.. not so far fecthed.
Ted Hutchinson // April 27, 2009 at 7:00 pm |
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19321573
Vitamin D supplementation enhances the beneficial effects of weight loss on cardiovascular disease risk markers.
This study from Bonn and Berlin found that using 3320iu/daily of vitamin D3 only raised 25(OH)D status by 55.5nmol/l on average, that’s around 22ng.
The level at which Calcitriol operates at Vmax unrestricted by lack of available substrate, stored Vit D3 + matching circulating Calcidiol, is above 50ng 125nmol/l.
It follows therefore that if 3320iu/daily only raises status to 85nmol/l on average at that latitude, it will require so what more to raise status to the level at which least incidence of chronic illness occurs. Dr Davis of the Heartscanblog finds that most of his patients at latitude 40ish require 5000~6000iu/daily.
If we want people to have the best protection against this potential epidemic then we must be realistic about the amount of vitamin d3 that is probably going to be effective.
Ted Hutchinson // April 27, 2009 at 7:02 pm |
The Risk of Additional Vitamin D.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19364661
Evidence from clinical trials shows, with a wide margin of confidence, that a prolonged intake of 10,000IU/d of vitamin D(3) poses no risk of adverse effects for adults, even if this is added to a rather high physiologic background level of vitamin D.
dr.divya sahu // April 27, 2009 at 10:56 pm |
Thanks for all this information about Swine Flu and the line of treatment. I would like to know more about the further treatment and prevention possibilities about Swine Flu. Thanks.
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Swine Flu Posts from Around the Blogosphere - It’s Obama’s Fault « The Church of Jesus Christ // April 28, 2009 at 2:59 am |
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Μπράβο στον Δημήτρη Ιατρίδη, που όλα τα προλαβαίνει! « Τσουκνίδα // April 28, 2009 at 4:47 am |
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Swine Flu- Mask to Help Prevent Infections « HealthAndSurvival.com // April 28, 2009 at 3:59 pm |
[...] Read more about vitamin D protection and swine flu. [...]
What to do about the swine flu @ My Flypaper Mind // April 30, 2009 at 2:07 pm |
[...] are what will give you the best chance of avoiding illness with the possible addition of vitamin D3 supplementation as a precautionary measure. And if you get sick, head to your doctor and get an anti-viral [...]
Swine Flu Vaccine 6 Months Away « HealthAndSurvival.com // April 30, 2009 at 9:30 pm |
[...] eating the right foods can do a lot to keep our immune systems’ strong. Studies have shown vitamin D to also be effective in preventing the flu, which likely explains why the flu is more dangerous [...]
Lisa85856 // July 13, 2009 at 5:29 pm |
Interesting stuff. Did you hear that there’s a new strain which is resistant to the anti-flu drugs? Tamiflu etc? Found a really good website for tracking it’s progress, seems to be updated every hour or so… http://www.swinefludeaths.co.uk.
Lisa3454 // July 13, 2009 at 5:32 pm |
Some good extra info on about vitimins here
Mae // August 1, 2009 at 5:36 pm |
You have to remember…Mexico has millions of people…and they had very few deaths…from swine flu per capita. Compared to Alaska..with many reported cases and a death.
Patriot // September 15, 2009 at 1:27 pm |
do not get the swine flu or seasonal flu vaccine. do your own research. think for yourself and question authority. it is your body and your mind. its nobodies place in this world to make choices for your body and your mind but yourselves. don’t become another statistic because you allowed yourself to be although well intentioned, ill informed. think for yourself- question authority.
CONNIE // October 19, 2009 at 12:18 am |
I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF IT IS SAFE FOE PREGNANT WOMEN TO TAKE VITAMIN D-3 AND HOW MUCH IS RECOMMENDED. ALSO FOR CHILDREN AGES 6 & 7.
Ted Hutchinson // October 24, 2009 at 7:19 pm |
Does Vitamin D make the World go round
http://www.liebertonline.com/doi/pdfplus/10.1089/bfm.2008.9984
is the title of a paper in Breastfeeding Journal.
The paper is by Hollis and Wagner 2 leading Vitamin D Researchers.
They have shown and explain in their paper that 6400iu/daily of vitamin D3 was sufficient to raise 25(OH)D sufficiently to allow human breast milk to contain optimum amounts of vitamin d so once the baby is born and is breastfeeding 6400iu/daily is required.
Before the baby is born they report the mothers daily needs could be met with just 4000iu/daily. But be aware they were working in Charleston Latitude 32 and that allows sun exposure most if not all of the year. It’s possible that people further north, above latitude 40 would require 5000iu to achieve the same impact particularly in winter.
For children Dr Cannell of The Vitamin D Council suggest 1000iu/daily for each 25lbs they weigh. So a 50lbs child requires 2000iu/d and 75lbs weight requires 3000iu/d.
rachael baker // November 11, 2009 at 6:59 pm |
can my one year old take vit d we think she has got swine flu
Karen // November 28, 2009 at 5:42 pm |
My 13 yr old daughter was diagnosed with the swine flu, so, I have been, as her mother, exposed for 3 days. I recieved the H1N1 injection yesterday. How much vitamin D3 do you recommend that I now take daily to prevent possible transmission to me?
healthandsurvival // November 28, 2009 at 7:16 pm |
I would take 10,000 IU daily for the next 5 days and then about 2,000 IU daily. I have been exposed to over 50 patients with suspected swine flu and have not even had a sniffle. Exposure does not mean you will get it. As a matter of fact, most who are exposed will not get the swine flu. In addition, the shot will likely take about 2 weeks to take effect.
Ted Hutchinson // November 28, 2009 at 9:44 pm |
I agree with healthandsurvival that 10,000iu/daily will help correct vitamin D insufficiency in the short term.
About 1000iu per 25lbs though is usually required over the long term to keep levels around 55ng/ml 137.5nmol/l, and this is the level associated with the least incidence of chronic illness.
In the UK the most recent blood tests show that for every one child who has been diagnosed with swine flu the blood tests reveal that 5 others have had the swine flu but not reported symptoms so you may well have been exposed and had the swine flu without knowing it is often so mild.