| "You're probably deficient in Vitamin D (or will be | | | | vitamin D and up to 70% of Americans are |
| this winter without supplementation). | | | | deficient in Vitamin D. |
| Since vitamin D deficiency is associated with | | | | This includes chronic musculoskeletal pain of |
| numerous health problems including diminished | | | | several types including muscle aches and stiffness, |
| immunity to the flu, chronic pain higher incidence | | | | osteoarthritis, migraine headaches, fibromyalgia. |
| of cancer and many other health problems, and | | | | And in the winter time, with decreased exposure |
| vitamin D is cheap, it's an important part of | | | | to the sun, we are sure to be deficient in vitamin |
| protecting your health." | | | | D. |
| Vitamin D boosts your immune system's ability to | | | | "Physicians who care for patients with chronic, |
| fight infections. | | | | diffuse pain that seems musculoskeletal--and |
| It does so by stimulating genes within your cells | | | | involves many areas of tenderness to palpation - |
| to produce key anti-microbial substances. For | | | | should strongly consider checking vitamin-D level." |
| instance, cathelicidin is one of over 200 | | | | according to Michael Turner, MD of the Mayo |
| anti-microbial peptides produced in the body. It is a | | | | Clinic. |
| naturally occurring broad spectrum anti-biotic | | | | But even if you had your medical doctor measure |
| whose production is stimulated by vitamin D. | | | | your vitamin D level, and you were "fine", you |
| Doctors believe that widespread Vitamin D | | | | may not be. |
| deficiency during winter time may be why we | | | | That's because most doctors test for a form of |
| have a flu season. | | | | vitamin D in the blood that doesn't accurately |
| "The lack of vitamin D in the winter may be a | | | | reflect vitamin D status. (Most doctors measure |
| "seasonal stimulus" to the infectivity of the | | | | calcitriol but should measure calcidiol). |
| influenza virus" according to Drs. Aloia and Li-ng. | | | | The optimal level of calcidiol is 35-50 ng/ml. |
| (from "Epidemic Influenza and Vitamin D, | | | | Vitamin D3 is produced in our skin when we are |
| Epidemiology and Infection, October 2007). Ever | | | | exposed to the sun. A young adult produces up |
| wonder why the flu season is in the winter? It's | | | | to 20,000 IU of vitamin D3 in just minutes of full |
| likely because the populations vitamin D levels go | | | | body summer sun exposure. |
| down in the winter time, making us more | | | | In the winter when we are covered head to toe |
| vulnerable to the flu infection. | | | | under cloudy skies, very little vitamin D is made in |
| Are flu vaccines working? Would vitamin D work | | | | our skin. |
| better? | | | | The solution is supplementation of vitamin D. |
| "A 2006 study stated "We found no evidence of | | | | Why? Here are some of the benefits of |
| reduction in influenza-related mortality in the last | | | | maintaining optimal vitamin D levels. |
| 15 years, despite the concomitant increase of | | | | Higher levels of vitamin D are associated with |
| influenza vaccination coverage from ~10% to | | | | lower rates of colon, breast, ovarian, renal, |
| ~60%"". (from the Virology Journal, February | | | | pancreatic, aggressive prostate and other cancers |
| 2008, "On the Epidemiology of Influenza"). | | | | according to an article in the Annals of |
| This study is saying that in spite of many more | | | | Epidemiology. The article, entitled "Vitamin D for |
| people getting vaccinated over the past 15 years, | | | | Cancer Prevention: Global Perspective" |
| the death rate from the flu hasn't changed. | | | | recommends taking 2000 iu of vitamin D3 per |
| "In a 2007 study, 104 women given vitamin D | | | | day to achieve blood levels of 40-60 ng/ml. |
| were three times less likely to report cold or flu | | | | BOTTOM LINE: TAKE 2000 IU OF "VITAMIN D3" |
| symptoms...". (same article as above). | | | | DAILY. |
| Chronic pain is associated with deficiency of | | | | |