Vitamin D Flu Prevention
Reams of scientific data published in the last ten years document the necessity of an adequate intake of Vitamin D for the proper functioning of nearly all bodily systems. Of particular significance, is the growing evidence from research suggesting Vitamin D's profound effects on the immune system. A report in Science News details a battery of studies linking Vitamin D with healthy immune functions, going so far as to dubbing Vitamin D as the "antibiotic vitamin"! 1
The association between Vitamin D and immune health is not new, but researchers at the Jikei University School of Medicine in Japan have gone one step further by putting this theory to rigorous testing in clinical trials. In a double blind, placebo-controlled trial, 344 school children were divided into two groups. One group received daily Vitamin D3 supplements of 1200 IUs. The other group received a placebo. During a period of 4 months (peak flu season), the incidence of flu was seen in 11 percent of the group that took Vitamin D3 supplements as compared to 19 percent in the placebo group. Children who already had low levels of Vitamin D benefited the most with a 74 percent reduction in the incidence of flu. 2
The study which was published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition reported that Vitamin D3 supplements, taken daily, may help reduce the influence of seasonal flu by over 40 percent. The study suggests that Vitamin D3 supplementation in winter may offer vitamin D flu protection to school children. An increased intake of Vitamin D may also benefit children who suffer from asthma.
Vitamin D is believed to promote flu protection by exerting an influence on the body's innate immune system. This is the heart of the body's defense system that reacts rapidly to pathogens using genetically encoded response mechanisms. One such response is the production of broad-spectrum antimicrobial agents called Antimicrobial Peptides (AMPs). When the body is exposed to microbes, our skin cells along with a broad range of immune cells create these natural antibiotics, AMPs. This process is dependent on the availability of Vitamin D in the body.
A study conducted by Danish scientists reported that Vitamin D is necessary for the proper signaling and activation of T cell when the body is exposed to foreign pathogens. Insufficient levels of Vitamin D may lead to poor immune response with T cells remaining either dormant or inactive. 3
How Vitamin D May Offer Flu Protection
There are several benefits associated with Vitamin D beyond supporting bone health and promoting immunity.
- Vitamin D may help to strengthen muscle which may help prevent falls. 4
- Vitamin D may support heart health. The Health Professional Follow-Up Study who followed the health of 50,000 men for 10 years showed that men who were deficient in Vitamin D were twice as more likely to have a heart attack than those who had adequate levels of Vitamin D. There is also evidence that suggests that Vitamin D plays a role in regulating normal blood pressure and may help to prevent artery damage. 5
How Can You Manufacture Your Own Line Of Vitamin D Flu Prevention Products
Vitamin D is both a nutrient we eat and a hormone that the body produces. The main dietary sources of Vitamin D are fortified foods and Vitamin D supplements. Common delivery methods are tablets and capsules. There is fast-growing evidence that Vitamin D plays a complex role in maintaining an array of healthy functions in the body.
To learn how you can start meeting consumer demand for high-quality Vitamin D flu prevention products, call (800) 494-6154 to speak with one of our product advisors or submit a request to receive a free quote from us in 24 to 48 hours!
References:
1. http://www.sciencenews.org/view/feature/id/7933/title/The_Antibiotic_Vitamin
2. "Randomized trial of vitamin D supplementation to prevent seasonal influenza A in schoolchildren" American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, published online ahead of print, doi:10.3945/ajcn.2009.29094.
3. Nature Immunology, doi: 10.1038/ni.1851.
4. A higher dose of vitamin D reduces the risk of falls in nursing home residents: a randomized, multiple-dose study. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2007; 55:234-9.
5. 25-hydroxyvitamin D and risk of myocardial infarction in men: a prospective study. Arch Intern Med. 2008; 168:1174-80.
