Evidence That Large Doses Of Vitamin D Kills Flu Virus

[tex]

Hi All,

More research evidence has surfaced indicating that large doses of vitamin D can kill flu virus, suggesting that if taken in the early stages of an infection, it may help to prevent the virus from becoming established.

LL-37, the only human cathelicidin, is a cationic antimicrobial peptide with antibacterial and antifungal activity. LL-37 is released from neutrophil granules and produced by epithelial cells. It has been implicated in host defence against influenza A virus (IAV) in recent studies. We now demonstrate dose-related neutralizing activity of LL-37 against several seasonal and mouse-adapted IAV strains. The ability of LL-37 to inhibit these IAV strains resulted mainly from direct effects on the virus, since pre-incubation of virus with LL-37 was needed for optimal inhibition. LL-37 bound high-density lipoprotein (HDL), and pre-incubation of LL-37 with human serum or HDL reduced its antiviral activity.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23052388

The reason why this works is because vitamin D upregulates cathelicidin, which is a naturally occurring anti-microbial peptide in humans, and research shows that cathelicidin is active against the influenza virus.

http://blog.vitamindcouncil.org/2013/01 ... its-early/

Tex

[Zizzle]

My daughter had the flu for 6 days. Hubby and I took at least 5,000 IU/day, sometimes 10,000 plus 1,000 mg vitamin C. My son took extra doses too. We all avoided the flu, and I'm on prednisone! Phew!!

[CathyMe.]

Thanks for posting this Tex. I too have had major sickness around me both @ school and @ home, upped my Vitamin D3, and so far so good!

[tex]

Tex

[Gabes-Apg]

I didnt need a study - i know it worked for me last aussie winter when the awful coughing flu got me

i was doing about 10,000 iu per day; litres and litres of water; and rest
i got rid of the cough within 2 weeks

work colleagues (that had the flu vaccine) had the cough for 2 - 3 months, got sinus infections etc etc

[wmonique2]

I am taking 8,000 U of D3 for heartburn...still get it. Maybe I need more. How much can one take of that stuff?

Monique

[tex]

Hi Monique,

Most cases of vitamin D toxicity involve daily doses in the 40,000 IU daily, or more, on a long-term basis (such as 6 months to a year or more). However, for most people, taking 20,000 IU daily on a long-term basis, can be borderline toxic.

Daily doses of 10,000 IU, even on a long-term basis, is considered to be generally safe, by Dr. John Cannell, founder of the Vitamin D Council. Eventually, (after 6 months to a year or so) doses in that range will boost your 25(OH)D level up to the upper levels of the normal range.

On a short-term basis, one can take a lot of vitamin D. For example, Dr. Cannell's recommendation several years ago, for anyone who believed that they were coming down with the H1N1 flu virus, was to take 2,000 IU per kg of body weight, daily, for a week. I weigh about 70 kg, so for me, that would translate to 140,000 IU per day. Since vitamin D3 is available in 50,000 IU capsules (which I keep on hand, in case of an urgent need), I would take 3 of them each day, for a week.

In fact, I did that one time, a few years ago, just to verify that it was safe, since I had posted that dosage for someone who asked about it. Actually, I stopped after 5 days, because the virus that I was testing it on had pretty well faded away by then. I had no ill effects from the treatment.

Several times, before I had boosted my vitamin D blood level to what I consider a decent level, I took 20,000 IU per day for 5 or 6 days, to try to suppress a cold or allergy symptoms. I had mixed results, so that's clearly not a therapeutic dose.

Note that 150,000 IU per day for a week adds up to slightly over a million IU total. At 5,000 IU per day, it would take 200 days to reach total accumulated level of 1,000, 000 IU, so if someone takes that high dose, they can coast for a long time, before they would need to resume taking a daily supplement.

The bottom line is, in the short run, there is a lot of leeway in the amount of D3 that can be safely taken. In the long run, though, we have to be more careful.

Tex

[wmonique2]

Tex,

Thank you so much for that expansive response and explaining it so thoroughly as you usually do. I feel safe now upping the dose now even though I take it for heartburn.

And thank you, from the very bottom of my heart, for your birthday wishes. You're a sweetheart for remembering all of us and for understanding that this condition has made us all so very vulnerable.

Love,

Monique

[tex]

"Vulnerable"! That's it — that's the word I've been searching for. IMO, it's the single most descriptive term to describe what MC does to us, and how it makes us feel. It makes us vulnerable, and so naturally it makes us feel vulnerable.

Thanks, and you're most welcome, of course.

Love,
Tex

[wmonique2]

Tex,

Yes, vulnerable is a perfect word for us. That is why we're all here, seeking each other's company, seeking solace, seeking support, seeking others' hands to help us through it all. Even though we don't know each other, we DO know each other. We are combatants, soldiers in arms, spiritual warriors , in it together because our togetherness makes us stronger.

And you, Tex, are my hero.

Monique