Vitamin D as part of your 2010 flu prevention regimen
A 2009 Japanese study of school age children found that those taking D3 were 58% less likely to catch Influenza A which is a significantly higher effectiveness than any vaccine can claim and there are no side effects (the 1200iu D3 supplementation also reduced asthma attacks).
We take Vitamin D daily and not just as part of our flu prevention regimen.
Some experts recommend, if you are coming down with flu-like symptoms you can take doses of 50,000 units a day for three days to treat the acute infection. We did this several times last winter and never got sick. For lots more information on Vitamin D go to www.vitamindcouncil.org
We, including the kids, take 4000-8000+ iu every day. We use either Carlson Labs Vitamin D drops (2000iu per drop) or Life Extensions 5000iu caps. You can order from www.iherb.com which has the lowest prices I’ve found for all my supplements (use coupon code BOT 164 on your first order for a $5 discount and it’s free shipping for orders over $40) or just ask me. I always have these two in stock.
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Recent research shows most Americans are deficient. D deficiency has been linked to chronic diseases. D does more than help you absorb calcium and build strong bones. Research has shown than enough D can help regulate cellular growth i.e may help prevent cells from becoming cancerous. It appears to strengthen the immune system and also reduces inflammation.
While the US Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) is still only 400 IU, Michael F. Holick, a Boston University scientist who is the most prominent proponent of the role of vitamin D in health and others suggest that most people should be getting at least 2000 IU once their levels are above 50ng/ml.
The Vitamin D Council suggests that to “strengthen your innate immunity” and to “quell an excessive immune response” you need sufficient levels of D. What are D3 sufficient levels? Your 25(OH)D level should be between 50-80 ng/ml. To get to this level you need 5000 iu of D3 per day for 2-3 months then get tested (25-hydroxyvitamin D test) and then adjust dosage as necessary.
Vitamin D is finally getting a lot of attention though the evidence of its importance has been in the scientific community since the early 1980’s. Frank C. Garland an epidemiologist from U.C. San Diego figured out in 1974 when he was 24 that there was a connection between the sun and cancer rates and spent the next six years with his brother assembling evidence that Vitamin D was capable of preventing cancer of the colon. He spent the rest of his career showing that some kinds of cancer can be called “nutritional deficiency diseases.”
D may offer protection from autoimmune diseases like diabetes, MS, RA, lupus as well as high blood pressure. D deficiency may affect cardiovascular health by increasing risk of calcification and congestive heart failure. Johns Hopkins cardiologist, Erin Michos says, “Low levels of Vitamin D are now believed to be an independent risk factor for heart attack, stroke and congestive heart failure.
This vitamin/hormone is made by you when sunlight touches your body. You can get some from your diet but not enough and foods fortified with vitamin D are actually fortified with the synthetic version D2 which is basically useless. Without adequate Vitamin D your body can’t absorb calcium, making calcium supplementation useless. Even weak sunscreens block your body’s ability to generate Vitamin D. Ideally you get your Vitamin D from sunlight but limited sunlight in the northern part of the U.S. prevents adequate production so supplementation is necessary. It is also harder to produce vitamin D from sunlight as we age and some cholesterol lowering drugs, antacids and steroid hormones such as cortisone interfere with absorption.
Animal and laboratory studies have shown that Vitamin D can act as a brake on cell growth, preventing the uncontrolled cell division that is cancer. A Harvard study indicated that just 400 IU per day significantly reduced the risk of pancreatic cancer. A Canadian study of 6000+ women showed that those who took a daily dose of Vitamin D were 24% less likely to develop breast cancer.
Other recent studies have shown:
The May 2010 American Academy of Pediatrics News recommended pregnant women take 4000 iu daily of Vitamin D (the FDA still recommends 400 iu) to fight infection and prevent premature birth.
A University of Wisconsin study shows Vitamin D had profound effects on the immune system especially in fighting infections. This makes several German studies on the Avian Flu virus that indicate that vitamin D supplementation can enhance the immune modulating effect more interesting and that those who got the flu and were tested were almost always deficient.
Two British studies showed attention, memory and solving logic problems directly connected to vitamin D levels.
Disclaimer: The information provided on this website is not intended to substitute for medical counseling. Intentional Health does not treat, prevent, cure, or diagnose any disease or ailment.