Forget the Tamiflu - take your Vitamin D

[hedgehog]

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/51913.php

[stray cat]

1. Wash your hands frequently

[hedgehog]

7. That's always a good idea. The news is showing a lot of Mexicans

wearing face masks. I've heard two viewpoints on that. One is that no face mask is fine enough to filter flu virus. The other is that the mask stops the droplets that the virus rides on.

[seabeyond]

22. kids are good at washing hands. told them today, do more and especially at school

plenty of soap and take time.

best at preventing

[Greybnk48]

2. I already do, 2000 mg. a day.

mainly because we live in an area with very little sunshine for 9 months of the year, but also my husband, who's in the medical field, suggested we start this last fall. Great to see the info supporting our move.

[G_j]

5. just curious

have you noticed a difference?

[hedgehog]

6. I think a lot of aches and pains went away. There's other literature out there

indicating that the nebulous growing pains some kids get are actually due to Vitaman D defficiency. Check with your doctor before doing anything drastic- but I've yet to hear of anyone who had their blood level tested who didn't have a very low level!


I get a flu shot every year and work from home, so I can't testify to any effectiveness there. It's been years since I've caught a cold, though.

[G_j]

10. thanks

Vitamin D is one of those things I rarely think about.

[Tangerine LaBamba]

36. Don't self-medicate, though ................

Check with your doctor, get the requisite blood test. That's the only certain way to find out what you need, if anything. I thought I was fine, but I had a real deficiency, and the regimen she prescribed for me - 50,000 units three times a week for four weeks - another blood test - and now one 50,000 unit capsule every two weeks - has had a very dramatic effect on how I feel.....................

:hi:

[havocmom]

39. my rhumatologist was happy I took D supplements, but said 'triple it...

for starters'. Lots of regular blood tests and some Rx for inflammation, but still raising the level of D I take, slowly per doctor's orders. She said just about everyone at this latitude is low. Can't go out much most of the year without covering all but your eyes, nose.

Friend with MS got same orders from her doctors: more D.... and keep it coming.

Sister with breast cancer: more D!

Hmmm

Glad it's helping you. I am still having too much trouble, but it is early in the experiment yet. I am hopeful.

Worried about this flu crap as they have me on immune suppressors too, and idiots here will not stay home when sick, they come to see me and be entertained.

:banghead:

[Tangerine LaBamba]

41. You and I both have autoimmune disorders?

Well, another sign of our greatness, yes? You didn't get a flu shot, did you? But, don't forget that those shots only protect against certain strains, and there are so damn many out there.

I got a flu shot before starting on methotrexate, and my rheumatologist checked my D levels and wrote another scrip. They were right up there - normal and acceptable - in a month. Now it's maintenance, and I've had two Remicade infusions so far, with another scheduled for three weeks from now. I have no idea if I have an immune system left.

First we have too much immune system; then we don't have enough. Life is beautiful.

The American medical world is just now catching on to the importance of D. I wonder what the long-term effects of this discovery, and people getting treatment, will be.

You just keep those people at a distance from you, no touching, keep washing your hands as often as possible, and get some Purell with aloe to keep your hands clean all day. The biggest thing is KEEP YOUR HANDS AWAY FROM YOUR FACE. My dermatologist told me that that's the single most important thing anyone can do to avoid viruses and not break out.

The truth is, though, that we can't do anything to protect ourselves. If we're exposed, well, that's it. Another reminder of our helplessness and mortality. Just what we need, huh?

:toast:

[havocmom]

48. No hable flu shots! And they put me on methotrexate, for a while.

Worked fine by me, but blood work said no can do.:cry: So back to baby steps with the Rx and lots of D, fish oil, and herring. Good thing I like herring. ;) Have LONG suspected doctors in the US were way behind the curve re vitamin levels and such. Do they require nutrition courses in med schools yet? Lots of doctors/nurses I have known from other nations were appalled at American doctors' lack of knowledge or even consideration about nutrition.

Keep Purell and a big ol container of Clorox wipes on my desk. Any surface the patrons touch a lot gets benefit of the latter while my paws are raw from contact with the former.

It's the coughing and sneezing I worry about. Small population = the whole place is a petri dish. They all get bored with their own company or they can't deal with the kids and figure my corner of the world is a great place to hang. Guess being so lovable has a price?

Hope I reach your level of pain control. Still not close for moi. In fact, am gonna have to look for a stout walking stick just to get out of bed some mornings (like today, fer instance) And I do not need no stinking weatherman. I KNOW when bad weather is 48 hours out, then 24 hours out. sucks big time, as I used to get a real kick from incoming weather, loved a good blizzard, danced in thunderstorms....

But I do love me some herring.... :thumbsup:

[Tangerine LaBamba]

55. Your doctor's smart .................

Fish oil capsules are a great resource, and who doesn't love some herring in sour cream with LOTS of sliced onions on dark pumpernickel?

(Rats - it's late here, and now I've gone and made myself hungry.)

No methotrexate? How about Celebrex? I take 200 mg twice a day, and that really helps, too. Had to fight with the insurance company, though, to get them to pay for it, the bitches. But, yeah, I know the feeling of needing help to get out of bed in the mroning. Damn, those mornings were miserable. I remember all too clearly, and I'm SO sorry you're enduring that. It's awful.

I also take oxycodone or Vicodin for the pain, which never really goes completely away, although my rheumatologist says it will.

And, agreed that American doctors - unlike all the others everywhere in the world - know nothing of nutrition. Lots of drugs, no problem, but the idea that food is medicine - and I know it it - is a puzzle to most of them.

I'm in Northern Virginia, and she told me to watch the weather in Ohio to know how I'll feel. Sure enough, if I'm uncomfortable, it's storming in Ohio. Those fronts give it all away.

Now, with all the Vidalia onions I have, I want herring and pumpernickel, dammit.

If you weren't so adorable, those contagious spreaders wouldn't be all over you, but I guess a Hazmat suit would send the wrong message, huh?

[havocmom]

71. LOL that dark peasant bread sounds good

but no sour cream for me. Never fond of the stuff.

Do hazmat suits come in coral? much better color for me. ;)

I have some pretty good vodka to go with the fish. Too bad about all the miles between here and there.

[elleng]

44. Hey Kid, where'd you FIND such a large dose?

I don't take as much as my Doc recommended; haven't seen such high dose anywhere. FOR THOSE WHO'D like to know, D helps body absorb CALCIUM!

PS, Kid, GOOD DAY in VA! Free Wash. St parking, 3 tapas, best = roasted/grilled vegs. Good seafood paella, but a bit over-cooked, and I must say, can't compare with that made by Mom! Only a few people there, at 3:00. Brother off to Ethiop.

Walked down to river; didn't mind crowd, as I enjoy NYC at Christmas time! But my TOES need lotion now! DID find shorts!

[Tangerine LaBamba]

46. It's prescription -

I've got an autoimmune disorder, so my rheumatologist is very involved and checks everything. Check with your doctor. I take a capsule twice a month, and my levels are right up where they're supposed to be.

I'm SO glad you had a GOOD DAY! It did hit 90! Free parking? Man, that's elegant. So the food wasn't fabulous, just good? Ah, well, the food was the least of it. I'm so glad you had a good visit with your brother. I thought of you this afternoon, hoping you were having a good time.

And wasn't it easy to get onto the Parkway to the Beltway to Dulles? A straight shot.

Good for you, kid!!! You get sunburned?

[elleng]

47. Didn't walk on sunny side of street>no sunburn!

Good, 'cause my SCALP burns! Meter wasn't accepting coins! Was a pleasure to visit with him. Dad(95) is living near him in Iowa (since Jan?) and doing SO WELL, we keep smiling about that! Wash. St.>Dulles like magic! THANKS!

:fistbump:

[Lisa0825]

50. WOW!

I just got tested, and the doc said mine was the lowest level she ever saw! Normal for the test was between 30 and 100, and my level was 5.7. She put me on 50,000 IU once per week for 12 weeks. I'm kind of wondering now, since you are put on it 3x per week, and my level was so drastically low.... I wonder if I should be taking more??

[Tangerine LaBamba]

53. No, no, no, no ................

Read my post again.

When I was first diagnosed, my D level was very low. So I had to take 50,000 units (one green capsule) three times a week for four weeks.

After that, I only have to take 50,000 units once every two weeks.

NOT three times a week - that was only the initial dose.

Your doctor knows what she's doing. Your blood tests will show if it's working.

But, DO NOT TAKE ANY MORE THAN SHE ORDERED!

[Lisa0825]

56. Oh, I would not change it without consulting her.....

I am just curious since my level was almost zero and I am on as much once per week as you were taking 3 times per week.

[Tangerine LaBamba]

60. Yeah, but you're on a 12-week regimen -

mine was only a month, and I was really low - lower than yours - so it was kind of urgent to get my levels up.

My guess is that you're on exactly the right path.

Good luck!

[Lisa0825]

63. How low were you?

There isn't much room between zero and 5.7 ! LOL

An aside... from my reading, the 2 biggest causes of deficiency are lack of sunlight (obviously) and stress. Well, lets see... Hurricane Ike hit me in late September, throwing my job into uncertainty... I was finally given notice of layoff in December, at which time my job as a recruiter turned toward counseling my fellow coworkers being laid-off, and also job-searching myself.... then I found a new job, which is a stressful thing as well... and most of this happened during winter. Is there any wonder I was deficient? LOL

[tblue37]

51. I had to have that sort of supplement--8 weeks for me--last year. nt

[Greybnk48]

21. I have not, but I also get a flu shot,

I will occasionally get a cold, maybe once a year. But we have sooo many overcast days and D helps with absorption of calcium, so I take it for my bones too. I'm 60 y/o female with no bone loss. Bottom line, it can't hurt. If you buy some, make sure it has D3 (cholecalciferol) for absorption of calcium.

[beac]

43. It must be Vitamin D-Day today. I try to keep up with the news on vitamins and supplements (though

that can be a confusing prospect at times!), but had never heard of taking extra D and the various reasons why until today when I read an article in a mag from the health food store (http://www.energytimes.com/et2/pages/features/0309/vitamind.html). Turns out, it was a back issue and the more recent edition I picked up in our town's other natural food store ALSO had a blurb on Vitamin D (http://www.energytimes.com/et2/pages/news.html). And now here's a discussion at DU.

Okay Universe, I hear you... back to the store for Vitamin D pills tomorrow!

[Tangerine LaBamba]

3. Indeed ..........

Physicians here in the States are just starting to catch on to the profound effects of Vitamin D insufficiency. I had no idea until my doctor ordered a blood test, and I was low on Vitamin D. Me, with a very healthy diet and life-style.

I had to take 50,000 units of Vitamin D - a round, dark green capsule - three times a week for four weeks. Then I was tested again, and now I take one capsule every two weeks. One of things I've noticed is that the aches and pains I had associated with getting older just about disappeared.

Vital ingredient in our daily lives, and that it's effective where epidemics are concerned doesn't surprise me in the least.

Now, watch Americans overdose on Vitamin D. That would be par for the course. We're sometimes a nation of boneheads........................

[pacalo]

35. That's the same capsule & regimen that I was just prescribed by my doctor.

I'm sure you must be as happy as I am about this information!

:hi:

[Tangerine LaBamba]

37. We have good doctors, don't we?

I'm most surprised at the disappearance - not just diminishing - of the achiness. It's so dramatic, and I keep telling my doctor how good she is, but she said it's only in the last year or so that American physicians are catching on to the deficiencies in their patients.

We're lucky, eh?

:toast:

[pacalo]

42. It's good to know the achiness goes away with this magical pill!

Funny, I went to the doctor about a huge lump on the knuckle of my left hand after hitting it hard. A blood test was done, X-rays showed no broken bones, & I thought nothing was gained from going to the doctor except hearing that I should "slow down" & that I'm "aging", &, now, I've learned on DU that the vitamin D prescribed for me happens to be a very pleasant surprise.

My doctor is amazing -- one of the few who does her homework before appointments. :)

[Tangerine LaBamba]

45. A woman ...............

I'm convinced that, with a few exceptions, of course, women doctors take a lot more care with their patients. I had the most amazing experience with this rheumatologist - I've only been seeing her since October, when I was really sick, and she's worked miracles, but, hey, that's her job, as she reminds me.

But, early on, I found a lump under my arm. I showed it to her, she examined it, and said it looked like nothing big, but I should see a surgeon. I thought, "Yeah, I'll do that, right," because I believe that the fewer doctors, the better. I was just relieved to find out it wasn't due to the medications I'd begun.

The next day, around 10 in the morning, I got a call from the rheumatologist. She said, "I kept thinking about you last night, and I want you to see an Infectious Disease specialist. I called a friend of mine, and she's holding an appointment for you tomorrow, so here's her number, and call to tell them if you can make it."

I was so stunned, all I said was, "Sure, yeah, OK, I'll do that."

I was in the ID doc's office the next morning, another really nice woman, who examined me, drained the lump, prescribed an antibiotic, and said she'd call with the lab results.

Two days later, already on antibiotics, I got the call. I had a deep-seated staph infection. Two different antibiotic regimens later, all the blood tests were clean.

I sent both physicians small gifts. They really went above and beyond, in my book.

It was the kind of thing "House" would do, that's what I thought, and, man, was I lucky!!

Yeah, we got good ones.......................

[pacalo]

77. Classy doctors & classy patient. :)

She checked & double-checked, but to call a friend to get you an appointment the next day...wow. Sounds like when she double-checked she suspected a staph infection. I'm glad you're here to talk about it because I really enjoy reading your posts. :)

[Tangerine LaBamba]

78. Aw, thanks ............

I'm such a bigmouth, got a story for just about everything. And I type faster than I write, a mixed blessing.

But, yeah, we have to count our blessings with good, conscientious doctors, and just keep getting better.

Thank you for your kind words ...........

[ChazII]

4. 1,000 mgs a day

is what I already take but if I am reading this correctly I need to up it to 2,000. Plus I also make sure I get my 15 minutes of sunshine by taking my dog for her walks.

[canetoad]

29. I believe the required amount

is 20 minutes over the whole body ie. naked. And you'd better walk an extra 5 minutes too:)

[MADem]

8. What a fascinating article. Thank you for posting it! nt

[hedgehog]

9. I may be skating close to the ban on offering medical advice,

but I thought it was important to spread this information so people can judge for themselves.


Last night the news mentioned that local communities were supposed to have come up with action plans in the event of a pandemic. That was the Bush administration's idea of preparation. I'm afraid that if the shit hits the fan, we're all on our own!

[MADem]

11. Well, you're not really doing that. The doctor in the article is simply noting a bit of

"anecdotal evidence" that we can take or leave as we see fit.

I think I'll get a few minutes of sun every day, though! Can't hurt!

[bluedawg12]

62. When you said "Forget the Tamiflu" you gave advice.

You did not cite an original paper from which people can make an informed judgement, the article in the OP is from 2006.

There is a new virus outbreak and the 2006 pulication is neither peer reivewed nor current.

The Vitamin D article suggests a hypothesis, not conclusive data.

[backscatter712]

65. Tamiflu apparently works on this flavor of influenza.

But Tamiflu has a history of losing effectiveness - influenza viruses mutate and develop resistance pretty quickly.

It's a good tool to keep in the toolbox, as long as the caveats are understood.

[bluedawg12]

66. I thought that was inconclusive. Regardless, I would prefer treatment

to a supplement I already take daily at 2,000 IU. For bone health.

You might have noticed, the author cited in the OP, has not closed the deal.

It's all hypothesis after 2 years.

[Th1onein]

12. And eat some elderberries

They are inhibitors of an enzyme that the flu needs to spread throughout your body.

[FedUpWithIt All]

13. Be very careful with elderberries after illness onset.

This particular virus has been causing the most harm among otherwise healthy young adults.

That points to the possibility that this virus is causing cytokine storm (immune related inflammation which gets dangerously out of hand). This is what killed so many in 1918. Elderberries (which work by causing the same immune response) can increase the risks of this happening once the virus has taken hold.

Elderberries in this case should be taken as a preventative and at the FIRST sign of illness.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cytokine_storm

[hedgehog]

14. Interesting article. It makes me wonder if the same ACE inhibitor that's used

to control blood pressure would be of use here.

[FedUpWithIt All]

15. Ilsa responded to a similar post yesterday with mention of ACE inhibitors...

>>>ACE inhibitors, rather than corticosteroids, would help suppress

the overreaction by the t-cells. Angtiotension II receptor blockers shouldd help also.

Nasty business, trying to control something like this. <<<


http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=5527941&mesg_id=5529071

The thing is that the media keeps mentioning the ages of the commonly affected by nobody has really come out and said that this possibility is of specific concern. Seems odd considering how verbal they are being otherwise.

[eShirl]

18. do you have a link to a source stating that elderberries stimulate immune response?

As I understood it, elderberries worked by making it so the virus couldn't penetrate human cells.

(for now will refrain from offering elderberry tincture to family member on immunosupressive drugs)

[FedUpWithIt All]

19. Here...

Production of inflammatory cytokines (IL-1b, TNF-a, IL-6, IL-8) was significantly increased, mostly by the Sambucol Black Elderberry Extract (2-45 fold), as compared to LPS, a known monocyte activator (3.6-10.7 fold). The most striking increase was noted in TNF-a production (44.9 fold). We conclude from this study that, in addition to its antiviral properties, Sambucol Elderberry Extract and its formulations activate the healthy immune system by increasing inflammatory cytokine production.

http://www.john-libbey-eurotext.fr/en/revues/bio_rech/ecn/e-docs/00/01/60/95/resume.md

Sambucol is a commercial preparation of black elderberry tincture.

[hedgehog]

20. Yikes! That might be a good reason to avoid elderberries with this flu!

[eShirl]

25. thank you very much. n/t

[handmade34]

40. excellent suggestion

generally we need to keep ourselves healthy and let our body do what it does well and fight off viruses and bacteria... My husband died a few years back from food poisoning because he already had a weakened system from other complications.. our best defense is good health.

[FirstLight]

16. Well, I'm screwn if it ends up spreading..

I take Enbrel, an immune-suppressant...

wonder if Vit D would still be okay to take..the pharmacist said there's no "FDA testing" on alternative therapies, so I am outa luck on whether that would work...

[hedgehog]

17. On the plus side, the immune suppressant may be exactly what

would prevent a cytosine storm.

[FirstLight]

23. It's a TNF -Blocker

You could very well be right...(it's to take down my inflammation issues.).. I do believe there is a relationship between cytokine & inflammation response, too

[Individualist]

27. My rheumatologist ordered a blood test to check my Vitamin D level

It was low, so he had me start on high doses of Vitamin D. I was taking Humira at the time.

[madmax]

33. I have RA also

and took Humira, Remicade, and Embril.. don't take any of that. When I started taking those - the warnings were of TB and serious infections now all three have added can cause certain types of cancer. Bingo! For me anyway. I realize it may or may not be the cause but, all those RA drugs compromise your immune system. I was taking Vioxx for 2 years until they pulled it off the market. That sucker caused 27k deaths. I was one of the lucky ones.

I also take Vitamin D and a bunch of other Rx vitamins for my blood (chemo destroyed my blood levels) plus I take Plaquenil and Methotretrate for the RA. Take good care of yourself :hug:

[FirstLight]

34. Enbrel has been a wonder drug for me...

Methotrexate worked a little, but plateaued and the side effects were too terrible to make it worthwhile.
I am hoping to just use it to get into "remission" enough ...so I can get my hand around it and then go back to my holistic ways. Macrobiotic diet and such were my initial defense..but my stress levels and horones did a hugs dip and I couldn't recover...till now. Been on the Enbrel for a month so far...

[Individualist]

49. You take care too, madmax

I took Humira for three or four years because the benefits far outweighed the risks (I was completely pain free once it took effect). Unfortunately I had to stop it last year when I was diagnosed with severe congestive heart failure.

[Tangerine LaBamba]

38. Ask your doctor -

don't do an OTC stuff. Get the requisite blood test and let your doctor prescribe the real deal.

I take methotrexate, Celebrex, prednisone, and get Remicade infusions periodically, so my blood is tested once a month. I take Vitamin D - prescription - twice a month, and it's made a big difference in how I feel.

But if you're taking Ebrel, you really should check with your physician. Don't fool around.

And good luck!

[21st century fox]

24. Okay, I'll "take" some sunshine tomorrow!

:wtf: :rofl:

[alfredo]

30. Yeah, but avoid the Brown Mescaline.

[pitohui]

26. by all means take your vitamins, however, here's why young people die of the flu

they don't go to the freakin' doctor when they have the flu, they tough it out, get pneumonia, and then sometimes it's too late, i know someone it happened to, being a healthy young 34 year old male he thought he could "tough it out"

i almost died as a teen from walking pneumonia, same bullshit, i tried to tough it out

i see no reason to invoke obscure theories when the truth is, the usual reason young people die of the flu is that they don't think they need to get it treated

if you have the flu, see a doctor to be sure it hasn't progressed to pneumonia

we in the usa and mexico need more of a canada type health system, where we don't have to fear seeing a doctor if we're young and broke

there is nothing at all mysterious in this and no need for obscure theories

[uppityperson]

32. 21 yr old cousin died a few yrs back because of this. However

this seems to be striking oddly also.

[omega minimo]

68. "where we don't have to fear seeing a doctor if we're young and broke"

[Duer 157099]

28. I also take it already - 3000iu/day (sometimes 2000)

After 4 months of the intensive Rx dose (50,000 iu/week) my levels went from 13 to 32. So still a little low (>35 seems to be what is recommended). My teenage son, who gets plenty of sun, was at 28, so now he's taking 1000iu/day.

My doc said that taking too much can increase calcium levels in the blood too high - which I then inferred could be risky for kidney stone formation, and I suppose other things - but since I've had a kidney stone (O.U.C.H.) I'm more attuned to that issue.

[Mz Pip]

31. I'm a '13' too

and am on the same 50,000 iu/week regimen. And I am hoping that this may have a positive effect on some of the aches and pains I've has along with some GI issues. From what I've read Vitamin D deficiency is linked to several serious conditions. I do wonder what comes first though. Are my symptoms caused by low vitamin D or do I have low vitamin D because of the other symptoms?

We shall see.

[Lisa0825]

52. I got ya beat!

My test came in 2 weeks ago at 5.7! I just took my first 5000 IU dose last week.

Coincidentally, I have been struggling with blepharitis, which I never had before until a couple months ago, but I have not found much literature relating the 2... but who knows, since so much new info on D is coming out!

[bluedawg12]

54. Does Dr. Cannell ever say foerget the flu shot?

Have you read his published papers?

[Poiuyt]

57. Ironically, my doctor said to cover up from the sun to avoid skin cancer

I hope I'm not warding off one problem to bring on another.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

58. My brother (doctor) says that for most people, ten minutes a day of sunshine

will give you 1,000 units of Vitamin D. That's not enough to give you skin cancer.

[backscatter712]

59. Interesting...

I'm a relatively healthy guy, but I frequently get my ass kicked by colds & flu in the winter months. I'm trying the Vitamin D approach - maybe it'll help my immune system take these bugs out.

It certainly can't hurt - you have to take an insanely huge amount of Vitamin D to hurt yourself.

[bluedawg12]

61. Daily VitD recommendation is

1 hour of sunlight on the face, or 2,000 IU VitD, which is an over the counter vitamin supplement.

[bluedawg12]

64. You cited an article from JJ Cannell in 2006, let's see what he says.

JJ Cannel is a psychiatrist, not an infectious disease doctor.

Here is the article he had published in 2006, which your OP cites.

Now, it says Dr. Cannell practices in California, on the edge of the swine flu that seems to be coming north from Mexico. This would be a great time to tell the good people down in Mexico that they need more sunshine, VitD and same for the towns on the border and Texas.

Let's keep on eye out for him on the news, this kind of great research should not be hidden!

He could prevent a pandemic.
...........

Epidemiol Infect. 2006 Dec;134(6):1129-40. Epub 2006 Sep 7.
Comment in:
Epidemiol Infect. 2007 Oct;135(7):1091-2; author reply 1092-5.
Epidemiol Infect. 2007 Oct;135(7):1095-6; author reply 1097-8.
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.

In 1981, R. Edgar Hope-Simpson proposed that a 'seasonal stimulus' intimately associated with solar radiation explained the remarkable seasonality of epidemic influenza.
....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'

.
................
Another article in 2006 on Vit.D

Cannell JJ, Vieth R, Umhau JC, Holick MF, Grant WB, Madronich S, Garland CF, and Giovanucci E. Epidemic Influenza and Vitamin D. Epidemiol Infect. 2006 Sep 7;:1-12 (Epub ahead of print)

Altern Med Rev. 2008 Mar;13(1):6-20.
Use of vitamin D in clinical practice.Cannell JJ, Hollis BW.

The recent discovery--from a meta-analysis of 18 randomized controlled trials--that supplemental cholecalciferol (vitamin D) significantly reduces all-cause mortality emphasizes the medical, ethical, and legal implications of promptly diagnosing and adequately treating vitamin D deficiency.

Theoretically, pharmacological doses of vitamin D (2,000 IU per kg per day for three days) may produce enough of the naturally occurring antibiotic cathelicidin to cure common viral respiratory infections, such as influenza and the common cold, but such a theory awaits further science.

.............
Let's see if the hypothesis is any further along by 2008

Virol J. 2008 Feb 25;5:29.
Comment in:
Virol J. 2008;5:149.
On the epidemiology of influenza.Cannell JJ, Zasloff M, Garland CF, Scragg R, Giovannucci E.
Department of Psychiatry, Atascadero State Hospital, 10333 El Camino Real, Atascadero, CA 93423, USA.

We hypothesize that two factors explain the nine conundrums: vitamin D's seasonal and population effects on innate immunity, and the presence of a subpopulation of "good infectors." If true, our revision of Edgar Hope-Simpson's theory has profound implications for the prevention of influenza.

............
And Vit D. is also implicated in autism for this author.

Med Hypotheses. 2008;70(4):750-9. Epub 2007 Oct 24. Links
Autism and vitamin D.Cannell JJ.
Atascadero State Hospital, Psychiatry, 10333 El Camino Real, Atascadero, CA 93423, United States.

Autism is more common in areas of impaired UVB penetration such as poleward latitudes, urban areas, areas with high air pollution, and areas of high precipitation. Autism is more common in dark-skinned persons and severe maternal vitamin D deficiency is exceptionally common the dark-skinned. Conclusion: simple Gaussian distributions of the enzyme that activates neural calcitriol combined with widespread gestational and/or early childhood vitamin D deficiency may explain both the genetics and epidemiology of autism.

.............

[bluedawg12]

67. Here's some peer review on his hyopthesis:

http://www.virologyj.com/content/5/1/149
>>The Editor:

In the February 25th issue of Virology Journal, Cannell and colleagues propose that Vitamin D is intimately associated with the incidence of human influenza infection to the extent that it explains numerous previously misunderstood manifestations of the disease and the behavior of epidemics <1>. Although a novel and intriguing hypothesis, it contains multiple incorrect assertions. Regarding the 1957 Livermore, California influenza study <2>, Cannell and colleagues assert,

"Maclean's description of the Livermore hospital's procedures is inadequate to know if patients were being directly irradiated, thus triggering vitamin D production in their skin. However careful inspection of another 1957 publication about a similarly irradiated Baltimore VA hospital – co-authored by McLean – is illuminating <3>. The Baltimore hospital wing apparently used a similar irradiation set-up with 'standard ultraviolet fixtures.' (p. 421) illustrations clearly show – despite text stating that only upper air was irradiated – that the rooms and hallways were all equipped with UV lights that either shone directly or indirectly on patients ... would have significantly raised the 25(OH)D levels of the irradiated, and relatively influenza free, patients. "

Represented in this assertion are multiple key misconceptions about air disinfection using ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI) that need to be rectified.

First, McLean clearly identifies the location of the air disinfection as the upper-room, as was the practice at the time. In the text under Figure 4 (p. 37) he describes the UV treated ward of the Livermore facility as sustaining "disinfection of the upper air of all rooms and corridors <2>." Investigators at the time were well aware of the need to confine UV to the upper room for occupant safety <4,5>. In addition, the UV fixtures in the Baltimore hospital wing, in fact, did not directly irradiate the buildings occupants <3>. The fixtures directed the UV energy horizontally and vertically upward, thereby minimizing UV exposure in the occupied space below. It is true that a small fraction of the UVC emitted from the fixture was reflected back down toward the occupied space; however, since the UV fixtures were located in the upper-room (e.g., above seven feet), the amount of UV reaching the occupants was necessarily less than 6 mJ/cm2 (the Threshold Limit Value or TLV) over 8 hours of exposure to prevent eye irritation <6-9>. In contrast, two hours peak exposure to sunlight in summertime can deliver approximately 740 mJ/cm2 of much more penetrating longer wavelength UV <10>.

Second, even if the subjects' skin was significantly exposed to UVGI, little or no vitamin D production would have been stimulated. The UVGI sources used in the 1950s <11> (and today <12,13>) for air disinfection in the healthcare setting were low-pressure mercury vapor lamps which emit short wave ultraviolet (almost entirely 253.7 nm) irradiation (UVC range). The amount of UVC that crosses the outer dead layer of the skin (stratum corneum) <14> and the amount of vitamin D synthesis that occurs from UVC exposure <15> are clinically negligible. In contrast, UV in sunlight is entirely longer wavelength UV with many times the penetration to reach vitamin D generating cells. From a practical standpoint, doses of UVC required to alter 7-dehydrocholesterol metabolism would cause substantial eye irritation (photokeratoconjunctivitis). Such adverse events were rarely if ever reported.

Third and finally, Cannell et al make the case that school-based UVGI studies showed no benefit, citing three studies widely acknowledged to be flawed in design <16> that showed no effect, while neglecting to cite a well-designed, earlier study which showed an impressive decrease in measles in the irradiated classrooms <17>.

UVGI (UVC) stimulation of vitamin D production is not biologically plausible. Accordingly, studies in which UVGI was used for air disinfection should not have been biased because of augmented vitamin D production.

Lewis J. Radonovich, Jr.

North Florida/South Georgia Veterans Health System

Richard A. Martinello

VA Connecticut Healthcare System, West Haven, CT

Michael Hodgson

Veterans Health Administration

Donald K. Milton

University of Massachusetts Lowell

Edward Nardell

Harvard University

Disclaimer:

The views expressed in this manuscript are the authors' personal opinions and do not necessarily reflect the views of the authors' employers or affiliates.<<

[BlooInBloo]

69. Is giving medical advice now allowed on DU?

[Codeine]

72. Only of the Wooish persuasion. nt

[Divine Discontent]

70. K&R because my auto-immune sick sibling said to! and I need to take more D!

[undergroundpanther]

73. I take 3,600 IU a day now

Three 1300 IU gelcaps a day.
Used to take 150,000 IU every other day for about two years( was a prescription)

The psych meds I had taken over the years had sucked all the vitamin D out of my system. And let me tell you weightlifting with no Vit.D in my body caused microscopic fractures to occur in my bones,I had to quit lifting. Lack of Vit.D had another bad effect,it hurt to walk first thing in the morning. My feet were so sore I'd hobble out of bed.Considering my metabolism is weird, I don't absorb it from the sun,and I be lactose intolerant.And the PSTD shit does not help either.Go figure.

[BigBearJohn]

74. Hedgehog, thank you from the bottom of my heart for posting this.

Wish I could recommend it 10,000 times.
Sent to everyone on my address book.

:hug:

[glowing]

75. You mean sit out in the sun. Best way to absorb vitamin D.

[TheManInTheMac]

76. I think I'll stick with the Tamiflu if the time comes.

Supplements and herbal remedies are fine when it comes to sniffles or a tummy ache, but when it's life and death, I'm more comfortable with medicine.

[Born_A_Truman]

79. One word of caution

I take a thiazide diuretic which cautions against vitamin D supplements without a doctor's supervision. I plan on asking my doctor about this on my next visit because even though I live in the Mojave Desert I don't get enough sunlight I'm sure. Too hot in the summer and too cold in the winter.