Preventing the flu with Vitamin D

Vitamin D is probably the best choice for preventing influenza. Let me explain. Research has shown that supplementation with vitamin D dramatically reduces the influence. In fact, doctors now believe that the reason is the influence of seasonal (winter) is that our fall in the levels of vitamin D in winter because of lowered levels of sunlight.

Have you ever wondered why there is a flu season? That is to say, "Because influenza viruses cause problems only in the winter?" OurFriends of Health say that the trend in winter (in northern climates) persons to be closer to each other in winter. We piled in because its cold outside. As in closer proximity makes it the flu, sneezing is communicated primarily through touch and easy to travel from one person to another more. It makes sense that the proximity would increase the incidence of influenza a bit '.

But it is a fact that explains that the flu is seasonal?Researchers have another explanation, which is more feasible to vitamin D is only recently that the medical community to appreciate the primary importance of vitamin D in our Health found. My first contact with vitamin D in high school biology (or was it the food?) Is that vitamin D deficiency causes rickets. When vitamin D deficiency was not the calcium could be absorbed and the bone is weak. We now know that vitamin D is much more encouraging than calcium intake. Vitamin D has beennoted that influence the expression of over 200 genes in the human body. Among other things, vitamin D increases the body's defenses against infection. This is done by stimulating the production of a substance called cathelicidin in white blood cells. Cathelicidin has anti-microbial. It helps to kill the invading white blood cells, is a virus or bacteria.

Okay, what if the vitamin D stimulates the immunity? What to do with the flu?

This still does not explain everythingon influenza activity during the winter. Yes, and here's why. Vitamin D is formed when sunlight hits our skin. In northern climates, there is less sunlight in winter (November to February in most places). There is also a corresponding decrease in population levels of vitamin D during winter. According to John Cannell, MD about 70% of the U.S. population is vitamin D levels are too low (below 35 ng / ml). The lack of sunlight in winterfurther exacerbates this lack. How important is sunlight to produce vitamin D? A young white man will produce 20,000 IU of vitamin D in a few minutes of whole-body exposure to the sun. And in winter we have less sunlight, and therefore our body produces less vitamin D.

But this is not a test for vitamin D - the name of the influenza virus, is not it? Here, where the researchers come in with what they believe is the beginning of the detection of a vitaminD-flu-related. Aloia John and Melissa Li ng their findings in an article entitled "epidemic influenza and vitamin D in the journal Epidemiology and Infection (October 2007) published. The authors studied 208 women over the age of three years. The women were divided randomly into two groups of the 104th One group received 800 IU of vitamin D and the other has not received (placebo). The groups were followed for two years, to see how many women have the flu. L 'Group, vitamin D had 8 cases of influenza. The group is not of vitamin D were 26 cases or more than 3 times the number. In the last year of the experiment, the women who had less than 800 IU of vitamin D in their daily dose was increased to 2000 IU. The third year was only once with the flu in the group with vitamin D.

Another group of researchers published their findings in an article published in the medical journal Nature Medicine in April,The 2006th article was "fighting infections with vitamin D" is entitled. The authors begin by noting that in 1903, Niels Finsen received the Nobel Prize for discovering that the sun cured tuberculosis. Sunlight therapy care and / or improvement of 95% of cases. The reason was unknown at that time. We now know that vitamin D stimulates the immune system, production of antimicrobial substances. The authors say that our current recommendations for vitamin D intake as necessary, based onfor bone health. The findings suggest that the optimal intake of vitamin D to ensure a strong and healthy immune system is more.

How much vitamin D you should take a strong immune system?

There are two answers. The first is that, ideally, you should check the levels of vitamin D. The ideal range for vitamin D (calcidiol) 35-50 ng / ml, many commercial laboratories report a vitamin "normal" level D and somewhere between 8 and 72 ng / ml Thus, insteadalways a "normal" return from the lab, you must see that the number is 35-50 ng / ml. If you want to check the levels of vitamin D and do not get much sunlight, taking 800-2000 IU of cholecalciferol (vitamin D3) per day. Vitamin D3 is found only in animal sources. Vitamin D2 (ergocalciferol) is of plants. Make sure that your vitamin D does not contain too much vitamin A. For example, cod liver oil contains 1200 IU and 14,000 IU of vitamin DVitamin A per tablespoon. Taking 2000 IU dose of cod liver oil a day is too much vitamin A and vitamin A can be toxic.

What about the toxicity of vitamin D? What is the danger?

Vitamin D toxicity is uncommon. The best way to insure against toxicity is that vitamin D levels checked at regular intervals. John Cannell, MD Vitamin D Council, reports that there were 100,000 capsules of 1,000 IU of vitamin D to take the lethal dose of vitamin D in a 150 approachPound man. Research has shown that taking 4,000 IU of vitamin D has up to six months without adverse effects. If a concerted effort to have received sun exposure, can the intake of vitamin D to 800 IU per day fall.

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