With so much in the news about the flu, it’s hard to choose any other topic to write about! Every newspaper, news channel and website is talking about flu and vaccine. At this point it seems likely that not all who want it will get the vaccine. What other options might we have to prevent and treat flu? There are many out there including the herb elderberry, good hand washing, nasal lavage, getting enough sleep. But the latest (and maybe greatest) is vitamin D.
Some say that one of the best things one can do to prevent and treat the flu is maintain vitamin D levels within a range of 50-70 ng/ml. Research indicates that vitamin D plays an important role in mediating the immune response. Deaths from flu are usually a result of a so –called cytokine storm, a hyper immune response in which there is a flooding of cytokines that can ultimately lead to death. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cytokine_storm During an infection with influenza, macrophages (part of innate immunity) produce pro-inflammatory cytokines which help fight infection by producing fever, inflammation, and increasing the production of other immune cells. In a normal immune response, a feedback loop keeps the production of these cytokines in check. In the case of a cytokine storm, this immune response becomes out of control. Macrophages and other immune cells continually increase secretion of cytokines and chemokines – unchecked. This high concentration can lead to damage to respiratory tissue and fluid in the lungs that is sometimes lethal. The tissue damage presents as adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), pulmonary edema, depressed ventricular function and multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) which eventually leads to death.
Research shows that vitamin D can have a modulating effect on macrophages, preventing an overproduction of cytokines. It seems that Vitamin D is converted to its active form by interferon (IFN), a cytokine produced by the macrophage, and could help mitigate the negative feedback loop which suppresses activated macrophages and further inflammation, thereby preventing a cytokine storm. http://bloodjournal.hematologylibrary.org/cgi/content/abstract/106/13/4351
Having enough vitamin D may be the key. Levels need to be maintained at 50-70 ng/ml for vitamin D to have this type of positive effect on flu prevention and treatment. Dr. Cannell, executive director of the Vitamin D Council http://www.vitamindcouncil.org/ has postulated this theory. He suggests that levels below 50 could lead to “substrate starvation”, a term he uses to describe a situation where the body uses up vitamin D as soon as it is taken or made. In the case of substrate starvation it’s possible that there would be enough vitamin to increase antimicrobial peptides, the body’s naturally produced antibiotics that fight infection directly, but not enough leftover to quell an overactive cytokine response. According to Dr Cannell, maintaining a circulating vitamin D level of 50-70 ng/ml is one way to insure that there is plenty of the vitamin to go around.
The bottom line: know your vitamin D levels. If low, supplement with vitamin D3 to get your levels between 50-70 ng/ml.
For more information about flu: http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/update.htm Or listen to Let's Talk, ZRT’s teleconference series on the ZRT website http://www.zrtlab.com/ in the media vault. This week’s topic-Staying healthy in cold and flu season.
Some say that one of the best things one can do to prevent and treat the flu is maintain vitamin D levels within a range of 50-70 ng/ml. Research indicates that vitamin D plays an important role in mediating the immune response. Deaths from flu are usually a result of a so –called cytokine storm, a hyper immune response in which there is a flooding of cytokines that can ultimately lead to death. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cytokine_storm During an infection with influenza, macrophages (part of innate immunity) produce pro-inflammatory cytokines which help fight infection by producing fever, inflammation, and increasing the production of other immune cells. In a normal immune response, a feedback loop keeps the production of these cytokines in check. In the case of a cytokine storm, this immune response becomes out of control. Macrophages and other immune cells continually increase secretion of cytokines and chemokines – unchecked. This high concentration can lead to damage to respiratory tissue and fluid in the lungs that is sometimes lethal. The tissue damage presents as adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), pulmonary edema, depressed ventricular function and multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) which eventually leads to death.
Research shows that vitamin D can have a modulating effect on macrophages, preventing an overproduction of cytokines. It seems that Vitamin D is converted to its active form by interferon (IFN), a cytokine produced by the macrophage, and could help mitigate the negative feedback loop which suppresses activated macrophages and further inflammation, thereby preventing a cytokine storm. http://bloodjournal.hematologylibrary.org/cgi/content/abstract/106/13/4351
Having enough vitamin D may be the key. Levels need to be maintained at 50-70 ng/ml for vitamin D to have this type of positive effect on flu prevention and treatment. Dr. Cannell, executive director of the Vitamin D Council http://www.vitamindcouncil.org/ has postulated this theory. He suggests that levels below 50 could lead to “substrate starvation”, a term he uses to describe a situation where the body uses up vitamin D as soon as it is taken or made. In the case of substrate starvation it’s possible that there would be enough vitamin to increase antimicrobial peptides, the body’s naturally produced antibiotics that fight infection directly, but not enough leftover to quell an overactive cytokine response. According to Dr Cannell, maintaining a circulating vitamin D level of 50-70 ng/ml is one way to insure that there is plenty of the vitamin to go around.
The bottom line: know your vitamin D levels. If low, supplement with vitamin D3 to get your levels between 50-70 ng/ml.
For more information about flu: http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/update.htm Or listen to Let's Talk, ZRT’s teleconference series on the ZRT website http://www.zrtlab.com/ in the media vault. This week’s topic-Staying healthy in cold and flu season.
Elise Schroeder ND
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