Vitamins
Vitamin D Protects Against Infectious Diseases
Date: 03/07/09
With temperatures rising above 30 degrees Celsius in the UK this summer, I assume we all will get our fair dose of immune-enhancing vitamin D. Here at the Daily Health we’ve written a lot about the numerous benefits of this fat- soluble vitamin, from protecting against colds and flu to helping prevent certain types of cancer. It doesn’t stop there with this amazing vitamin, because vitamin D keeps on unveiling more and more benefits.
Vitamin D and infectious diseases
The role of vitamin D as an anti-infective agent was recently assessed in the form of a review. 13 studies were reviewed, of which 9 were double-blind and placebo- controlled. Some of these studies assessed the role of vitamin D in the treatment of tuberculosis (TB), which is a highly infectious disease of the lungs that continues to claim significant numbers of lives around the World.
TB? Isn’t that a disease from the 19th century? I will forgive you for thinking so, however, 3 million individuals will die this year from this disease - mainly in less developed countries. In the UK, too, the number of TB cases is again rising. Alcoholics, HIV-positive individuals, some recent immigrants and healthcare workers are at increased risk.
TB is most commonly found in places such as hostels for the homeless, prisons, and centres for immigrants arriving from areas with high rates of HIV infection or inadequate health provision. Although TB is a disease of the lungs, the infection can spread via blood from the lungs to all organs in the body. This means that you can develop tuberculosis in the pleura (the covering of the lungs), in the bones, the urinary tract and sexual organs, the intestines and even in the skin.
With the numbers of diseases such as TB and even Swine Flu rising a review of vitamin D’s anti-infective ability is extremely relevant in our fight to protect ourselves naturally.
Vitamin D as an anti-infective agent
Before antibiotics, many TB sufferers were shipped off to ‘sanatoriums’: often rurally-located facilities where individuals would typically spend a year or more to rest, eat well, and hopefully overcome their illness.
While rest and a healthy diet were thought to be the cornerstones of treatment, some have suggested that another beneficial element of sanatorium life was its potential to allow exposure to sunlight. Vitamin D, produced in response to sunlight, is known to have immune-enhancing effects. In one study, for instance, a single dose of vitamin D (2.5 mg/100,000 IU) led to improved immune function against TB.
Overall, the results of the review showed that vitamin D therapy shows considerable potential in the treatment of TB and other infections, including flu and viral upper respiratory tract illnesses (e.g. cold). In addition, adverse events due to vitamin D supplementation were rare.
This review suggests that ensuring optimal vitamin D levels (through appropriate sunlight exposure, diet and, if necessary, supplementation) is likely to help ensure optimal protection from infectious diseases. This has particular relevance in the winter, when vitamin D levels tend be low. In fact, lower levels of vitamin D may well be a factor as to why infectious diseases (such as cold, flu and pneumonia) tend to be more common in the winter.
In a study published in August 2007 in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 800 Finnish men had their vitamin D blood-levels measured, after which they were followed for a six-month period. The researchers who conducted the study then assessed whether there was any relationship between blood vitamin D levels and the number of days taken off sick due to respiratory tract infection (e.g. chest infection).
The researchers found that individuals with vitamin D levels less than 40 nmol/l, compared to those with levels greater than 40 nmol/l, took twice as many sick days of work due to respiratory tract infection (4 days of average rather than 2). As a result, the researchers suggested that one reason individuals are more prone to infection in the winter has something to do with lower levels of vitamin D in their bodies.
US Researchers from Winthrop University Hospital in Mineola, found that giving supplements of vitamin D to a group of volunteers reduced the occurrence of colds and flu by 70 per cent over three years. The researchers said that the vitamin stimulated natural immunity to viruses and bacteria and they concluded that the decline in vitamin D levels between November and March could be the reason for the peak in colds and flu during winter.
Studies indicating the disease fighting and immune- protective benefits of a vitamin such as vitamin D will then obviously prompt the wise among us to get more of it, especially if it is for free and available simply by catching some sun.
Getting it while you can
Let’s face it, there is a fair amount of jokes going around the world about the British burning themselves red and pink on the beaches of Spain, Portugal, South Africa and Brazil and I am almost inclined to say: ‘Who can blame us?’
With so many health benefits to gain from this naturally produced vitamin and with so few real sunny days, we are all bound to go a bit overboard when we see clear, bright sunny skies.
But let’s make a promise to ourselves this year: That we will enjoy the sun wisely, stay in the shade between 11 and 3, stay hydrated and remember that 30 minutes a day is more than enough. Cover yourselves up and wear a hat when the sun is too harsh whilst you are outside. There is no rush to soak up the sun, unless you want to end up with an unsightly dose of skin cancer and prematurely, aged skin.
Related Reading:
Sources:
‘Could low levels of vitamin D help explain why we’re prone to infections in the winter?’, by Dr. Briffa, published online 12.10.07, drbriffa.com
‘Vitamin D helps to combat tuberculosis, flu and other infections’ by Dr. Briffa, published online 22.06.07, drbriffa.com
‘Tuberculosis’ by Dr Gavin Petrie, published online, netdoctor.co.uk
Back to topVitamin D and infectious diseases
The role of vitamin D as an anti-infective agent was recently assessed in the form of a review. 13 studies were reviewed, of which 9 were double-blind and placebo- controlled. Some of these studies assessed the role of vitamin D in the treatment of tuberculosis (TB), which is a highly infectious disease of the lungs that continues to claim significant numbers of lives around the World.
TB? Isn’t that a disease from the 19th century? I will forgive you for thinking so, however, 3 million individuals will die this year from this disease - mainly in less developed countries. In the UK, too, the number of TB cases is again rising. Alcoholics, HIV-positive individuals, some recent immigrants and healthcare workers are at increased risk.
TB is most commonly found in places such as hostels for the homeless, prisons, and centres for immigrants arriving from areas with high rates of HIV infection or inadequate health provision. Although TB is a disease of the lungs, the infection can spread via blood from the lungs to all organs in the body. This means that you can develop tuberculosis in the pleura (the covering of the lungs), in the bones, the urinary tract and sexual organs, the intestines and even in the skin.
With the numbers of diseases such as TB and even Swine Flu rising a review of vitamin D’s anti-infective ability is extremely relevant in our fight to protect ourselves naturally.
Vitamin D as an anti-infective agent
Before antibiotics, many TB sufferers were shipped off to ‘sanatoriums’: often rurally-located facilities where individuals would typically spend a year or more to rest, eat well, and hopefully overcome their illness.
While rest and a healthy diet were thought to be the cornerstones of treatment, some have suggested that another beneficial element of sanatorium life was its potential to allow exposure to sunlight. Vitamin D, produced in response to sunlight, is known to have immune-enhancing effects. In one study, for instance, a single dose of vitamin D (2.5 mg/100,000 IU) led to improved immune function against TB.
Overall, the results of the review showed that vitamin D therapy shows considerable potential in the treatment of TB and other infections, including flu and viral upper respiratory tract illnesses (e.g. cold). In addition, adverse events due to vitamin D supplementation were rare.
This review suggests that ensuring optimal vitamin D levels (through appropriate sunlight exposure, diet and, if necessary, supplementation) is likely to help ensure optimal protection from infectious diseases. This has particular relevance in the winter, when vitamin D levels tend be low. In fact, lower levels of vitamin D may well be a factor as to why infectious diseases (such as cold, flu and pneumonia) tend to be more common in the winter.
In a study published in August 2007 in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 800 Finnish men had their vitamin D blood-levels measured, after which they were followed for a six-month period. The researchers who conducted the study then assessed whether there was any relationship between blood vitamin D levels and the number of days taken off sick due to respiratory tract infection (e.g. chest infection).
The researchers found that individuals with vitamin D levels less than 40 nmol/l, compared to those with levels greater than 40 nmol/l, took twice as many sick days of work due to respiratory tract infection (4 days of average rather than 2). As a result, the researchers suggested that one reason individuals are more prone to infection in the winter has something to do with lower levels of vitamin D in their bodies.
US Researchers from Winthrop University Hospital in Mineola, found that giving supplements of vitamin D to a group of volunteers reduced the occurrence of colds and flu by 70 per cent over three years. The researchers said that the vitamin stimulated natural immunity to viruses and bacteria and they concluded that the decline in vitamin D levels between November and March could be the reason for the peak in colds and flu during winter.
Studies indicating the disease fighting and immune- protective benefits of a vitamin such as vitamin D will then obviously prompt the wise among us to get more of it, especially if it is for free and available simply by catching some sun.
Getting it while you can
Let’s face it, there is a fair amount of jokes going around the world about the British burning themselves red and pink on the beaches of Spain, Portugal, South Africa and Brazil and I am almost inclined to say: ‘Who can blame us?’
With so many health benefits to gain from this naturally produced vitamin and with so few real sunny days, we are all bound to go a bit overboard when we see clear, bright sunny skies.
But let’s make a promise to ourselves this year: That we will enjoy the sun wisely, stay in the shade between 11 and 3, stay hydrated and remember that 30 minutes a day is more than enough. Cover yourselves up and wear a hat when the sun is too harsh whilst you are outside. There is no rush to soak up the sun, unless you want to end up with an unsightly dose of skin cancer and prematurely, aged skin.
Related Reading:
The Link Between Depression And Vitamin Or Mineral Deficiency
How Vitamin D Can Help To Maintain Prostate Health
Vitamin D for Overall Health
Sources:
‘Could low levels of vitamin D help explain why we’re prone to infections in the winter?’, by Dr. Briffa, published online 12.10.07, drbriffa.com
‘Vitamin D helps to combat tuberculosis, flu and other infections’ by Dr. Briffa, published online 22.06.07, drbriffa.com
‘Tuberculosis’ by Dr Gavin Petrie, published online, netdoctor.co.uk
Click here to send to a friendShare thisPrinter friendly version
