Can vitamin D prevent the flu?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates, this winter’s flu season is on track to be worse than that of the 2014-2015 season when 34 million Americans got the flu, 710,000 were hospitalized, and 56,000 died. It has been reported that schools in at least 12 states have closed for some period of time due to the flu. Over the past 34 years, February has been the most common month for peak flu activity.
Why is the flu more common in winter?
Several of the studies have linked low vitamin D levels to greater susceptibility to respiratory infections. The researchers found that people who took daily or weekly vitamin D supplements were less likely to report acute respiratory infections, like influenza or the common cold, than those who did not. Those who had low vitamin D levels before they started supplementation got the biggest benefit - for people with the most significant vitamin D deficiencies (blood levels below 10 mg/dl), taking a supplement cut their risk of respiratory infection by 50 percent. People with higher vitamin D levels also saw a 10 percent decrease in risk.
Is my vitamin D level is high enough?Many who live in the United States think this doesn’t apply to them, but it does. The average vitamin D level of Americans is approximately 24 ng/ml. Scientists agree that optimal vitamin D levels are 40-60 ng/ml.
How can vitamin D protect me against the flu?Vitamin D is thought to protect against illness by boosting levels of natural, antibiotic-like peptides in the lungs. This may be one reason why colds and flus are most common in the winter, when sunlight exposure (and therefore the body’s natural vitamin D production) is at its lowest. It may also help explain why vitamin D appears to be protective against asthma attacks, which can be triggered by respiratory viruses.
Acute respiratory infections are responsible for millions of emergency department visits in the United States. These results could have a major impact on our health system and also support efforts to fortify foods with vitamin D, especially in populations with high levels of vitamin D deficiency. Supplementation is worth discussing with a healthcare provider if you get a lot of acute respiratory infections - particularly if you have asthma or chronic bronchitis, where the consequences of these infections can be particularly serious.
Recommendations
Acute respiratory infections are a major cause of morbidity and mortality. Upper respiratory infections such as colds and flu are the most common reason for healthcare provider visits and days off work. Vitamin D supplementation is safe and inexpensive, so reductions in acute respiratory infections brought about by vitamin D supplementation could be highly cost-effective.
https://www.jacksonsun.com/story/news/local/2018/11/09/can-vitamin-d-prevent-flu/1947956002/
Why is the flu more common in winter?
- The influenza virus lives longer outside the human body when it is cold and dry, resulting in the flu season starting in late fall as cold air reduces the absolute humidity of the air.
- Vitamin D levels tend to be lower in winter.
Several of the studies have linked low vitamin D levels to greater susceptibility to respiratory infections. The researchers found that people who took daily or weekly vitamin D supplements were less likely to report acute respiratory infections, like influenza or the common cold, than those who did not. Those who had low vitamin D levels before they started supplementation got the biggest benefit - for people with the most significant vitamin D deficiencies (blood levels below 10 mg/dl), taking a supplement cut their risk of respiratory infection by 50 percent. People with higher vitamin D levels also saw a 10 percent decrease in risk.
Is my vitamin D level is high enough?Many who live in the United States think this doesn’t apply to them, but it does. The average vitamin D level of Americans is approximately 24 ng/ml. Scientists agree that optimal vitamin D levels are 40-60 ng/ml.
How can vitamin D protect me against the flu?Vitamin D is thought to protect against illness by boosting levels of natural, antibiotic-like peptides in the lungs. This may be one reason why colds and flus are most common in the winter, when sunlight exposure (and therefore the body’s natural vitamin D production) is at its lowest. It may also help explain why vitamin D appears to be protective against asthma attacks, which can be triggered by respiratory viruses.
Acute respiratory infections are responsible for millions of emergency department visits in the United States. These results could have a major impact on our health system and also support efforts to fortify foods with vitamin D, especially in populations with high levels of vitamin D deficiency. Supplementation is worth discussing with a healthcare provider if you get a lot of acute respiratory infections - particularly if you have asthma or chronic bronchitis, where the consequences of these infections can be particularly serious.
Recommendations
- Get your vitamin D levels tested (it’s a simple blood test).
- Once you have received your results discuss with your healthcare provider how best to proceed to raise your vitamin D level above 40 ng/ml (100 nmol/L).
- You can use this calculator to help you determine the approximate amount of extra supplementation required to get to your desired level: https://grassrootshealth.net/project/dcalculator/.
Acute respiratory infections are a major cause of morbidity and mortality. Upper respiratory infections such as colds and flu are the most common reason for healthcare provider visits and days off work. Vitamin D supplementation is safe and inexpensive, so reductions in acute respiratory infections brought about by vitamin D supplementation could be highly cost-effective.
https://www.jacksonsun.com/story/news/local/2018/11/09/can-vitamin-d-prevent-flu/1947956002/