Just as flu season gathers force here in the northern hemisphere, it’s petering out in the southern half of the globe. No matter where you are, you’re more susceptible to the flu in the winter months. Even if, let’s say, some research physicians expose you to live flu virus in the middle of summer, you’re still less likely to get sick than if the same doctors hit you with the same virus in the dead of winter. Why? One big risk factor for flu infection is a lack of vitamin D. We naturally produce vitamin D when we’re exposed to sunlight, and as the days shorten in the winter, we produce less and less of it. That led these researchers to think that flu epidemics could be a sign of widespread vitamin D deficiency, due in part to decreased solar radiation. So it seems darkness makes the flu go ’round. (HT: Jason Tetro)
http://freakonomics.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/10/16/what-makes-flu-seasonal/|What Makes Flu Seasonal?>
Epidemic influenza and vitamin D Cannell JJ, Vieth R, Umhau JC, Holick MF, Grant WB, Madronich S, Garland CF, Giovannucci E. Atascadero State Hospital, 10333 El Camino Real, Atascadero, CA 93422, USA. jcannell@dmhash.state.ca.us
In 1981, R. Edgar Hope-Simpson proposed that a 'seasonal stimulus' intimately associated with solar radiation explained the remarkable seasonality of epidemic influenza. Solar radiation triggers robust seasonal vitamin D production in the skin; vitamin D deficiency is common in the winter, and activated vitamin D, 1,25(OH)2D, a steroid hormone, has profound effects on human immunity. 1,25(OH)2D acts as an immune system modulator, preventing excessive expression of inflammatory cytokines and increasing the 'oxidative burst' potential of macrophages. Perhaps most importantly, it dramatically stimulates the expression of potent anti-microbial peptides, which exist in neutrophils, monocytes, natural killer cells, and in epithelial cells lining the respiratory tract where they play a major role in protecting the lung from infection. Volunteers inoculated with live attenuated influenza virus are more likely to develop fever and serological evidence of an immune response in the winter. Vitamin D deficiency predisposes children to respiratory infections. Ultraviolet radiation (either from artificial sources or from sunlight) reduces the incidence of viral respiratory infections, as does cod liver oil (which contains vitamin D). An interventional study showed that vitamin D reduces the incidence of respiratory infections in children. We conclude that vitamin D, or lack of it, may be Hope-Simpson's 'seasonal stimulus'.
1. When I moved to California in 1981, I was surprised to find out
Edited on Fri Oct-16-09 08:43 PM by truedelphi
That many people had the "flu" during the summers here. Of course, it is difficult to determine whether someone is suffering from the flu or from food poisoning, especially if people do not offer a full recap of their symptoms etc...
Your post on the vitamin D info is quite interesting.
7. When do people gather in large numbers in crowded stuffy places?
Fall, going back to school. Winter because it is cold outside and so you stay inside more, around more people sneezing and coughing and hacking all over the place.
Best thing to do is get outside, away from other people. As well as wash your hands, esp before touching your eyes or nose.
8. According to UCLA one needs A LOT of supplemental vitamin D to get up to sufficient amounts --
<snip? For these patients — and, indeed, for most adults — oral supplements in combination with careful sunlight exposure are generally required to ensure sufficient vitamin D levels. For most people who are already vitamin D sufficient, the amount of vitamin D needed is approximately 800 to 1,000 international units (IU) a day from supplements and dietary sources. However, because most of us are already vitamin D insufficient, we routinely will need up to 500,000 to 1 million IU over the course of a month or so in the form of concentrated supplements to return to the normal range, Dr. Adams says. <snip>
9. I thought it had to do with the seasonal patterns of duck behavior in China
I could certainly be wrong, but I remember reading that each flu mutates in water fowl in China before spreading to humans, and that the patterns of behavior of water fowl, and the incubation and mutation of the flu in water fowl is very seasonally determined.
11. 1000 IU is maintaince. If your not at optimal levels 40 ng/ml-60ng/ml
Edited on Mon Oct-19-09 08:35 PM by snagglepuss
If your not at optimal levels between 40 ng/ml-60ng/ml then 1000 IU from what I've read you won't get you there.
I have personel experience with 2000 IU daily. In March 2009 my VD3 tested at 27 NG which is insufficient, so I began 2000 IU daily, I tested again in July and my level was up to 35 NG which is sufficient but not optimal.
As I was concerned about contracting the flu and because Canada will be delayed rolling out the vaccine, I started 4000 IU to raise my level to optimal level over a shorted period of time I will be shortly getting my level tested again.
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