Was this information helpful? Average rating: 4.7/5 (45 votes)
What do you think? Click the stars to vote!
If you have more to say, post a comment below!
A study of 200 adults during last winter's flu season indicates that vitamin D may play an important role in helping ward off upper respiratory tract viral infections. In this double-blind research, neither subjects nor investigators knew what the vitamin D levels were until the end of the study. Blood was drawn every month to determine 25-hydroxy vitamin D.
Participants were asked to keep a diary of their symptoms such as sniffles, cough, stuffy nose, sore throat and fever. Only about 17 percent of those with the highest levels of vitamin D, over 38 ng/ml, came down with a viral infection. If they did catch a cold or flu, they weren't sick for long. Nearly half of those with lower levels of vitamin D caught a viral infection. The investigators speculate that reduced vitamin D levels in the winter may explain why colds and flu are so seasonal.
Was this information helpful? Average rating: 4.7/5 (45 votes)
What do you think? Click the stars to vote!
If you have more to say, post a comment below!
This week when I had my annual physical, I requested a vitamin D test. My doctor said that was not approved by medicare and my cost would be $250. I decided against it but since vitamin D3 is good for so many health areas, I cannot understand why it wouldn't be cost effective to have that test covered. I will continue to take 800 IU daily but would sure like to know if is what I need.
PEOPLE'S PHARMACY RESPONSE: IT IS POSSIBLE TO ORDER A HOME TEST THROUGH THE VITAMIN D COUNCIL FOR ABOUT $60. http://www.vitamindcouncil.org/health/deficiency/am-i-vitamin-d-deficient.shtml