Vitamin D supplementation may be a way to prevent catching the Pig Flu (a.k.a. Swine Flu or H1N1). I figure the last thing I need is to come down with this bug and be out of commission for a couple of weeks, or that my mother come down with it. The following letters are posted on a web site called "The Vitamin D Council". The idea is that the rise in flu and cold cases in the winter months is due to lower vitamin D levels, caused by people being indoors more, and not in the sun making vitamin D:

Dr. Cannell: Your recent newsletters and video about Swine flu (H1N1) prompted me to convey our recent experience with an H1N1 outbreak at Central Wisconsin Center (CWC). Unfortunately, the state epidemiologist was not interested in studying it further so I pass it on to you since I think it is noteworthy.

CWC is a long-term care facility for people with developmental disabilities, home for approx. 275 people with approx. 800 staff. Serum 25-OHD has been monitored in virtually all residents for several years and patients supplemented with vitamin D.

In June, 2009, at the time of the well-publicized Wisconsin spike in H1N1 cases, two residents developed influenza-like illness (ILI) and had positive tests for H1N1: one was a long-term resident; the other, a child, was transferred to us with what was later proven to be H1N1.

On the other hand, 60 staff members developed ILI or were documented to have H1N1: of 17 tested for ILI, eight were positive. An additional 43 staff members called in sick with ILI. (Approx. 11–12 staff developed ILI after working on the unit where the child was given care, several of whom had positive H1N1 tests.)

So, it is rather remarkable that only two residents of 275 developed ILI, one of which did not develop it here, while 103 of 800 staff members had ILI. It appears that the spread of H1N1 was not from staff-to-resident but from resident-to-staff (most obvious in the imported case) and between staff, implying that staff were susceptible and our residents protected.

Sincerely, Norris Glick, MD
Central Wisconsin Center
Madison, WI

So, I had to wonder, just how much vitamin D should one use? The next letter on this web site answers that question:

Dr. Cannell: Thanks for your update about the hospital in Wisconsin. I have had similar anecdotal evidence from my medical practice here in Georgia. We are one of the 5 states with widespread H1N1 outbreaks.

I share an office with another family physician. I aggressively measure and replete vitamin D. He does not. He is seeing one to 10 cases per week of influenza-like illness.

In my practice— I have had zero cases. My patients are universally on 2000–5000 IU to maintain serum levels 50–80 ng/ml.

Ellie Campbell, DO
Campbell Family Medicine
3925 Johns Creek Court
Ste A
Suwannee GA 30024

I haven't checked yet to see if these people and places really exist. (Believe it or not, people do make up things they post on the Internet.) Even so, I thought that until the vaccine is available, this seems like a pretty harmless thing to add to one's vitamin regimen, even if it does nothing to prevent Pig Flu.
http://www.vitamindcouncil.org...h1n1-swine-flu.shtml

Thanks for posting this.
Vitamin D is a fat soluble vitamin and can be toxic if taken in too high of a dosage, so be careful though. The dosage in the article is a lot higher than what's recommended, so if you're going to uses doses that high, I'd clear it with your doctor first.
http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/vitamind.asp

Yeah, that's what I was thinking too. There is such conflicting opinions on how much is too much. 2000IU is said to be the upper limit for long-term daily supplementation. Considering that full-body exposure to sunlight will produce 10,000IU of vitamin D in less than an hour, and a tablespoon of codliver oil (yech!) has something like 1200IU, I figure 2000IU a day for a few weeks until the H1N1 vaccine is available wouldn't hurt me. The web site I link to above lays out the whole argument pretty good.

I have no problem with making sure vitamin D is kept at optimum levels.

But I would like to point out that swine flu does not seem to be particularly contagious to older people, period. Unlike regular flu, the elderly are not considered to be high-risk for H1N1.

One would suspect that the staff are considerably younger than the residents.

The reason the elderly may not be so susceptible is that apparently this flu came around in 1958, but it wasn't called the Swine Flu. This information is not from a doctor, but from my neighbor and he couldn't remember what it was called back then. I had the flu two weeks ago, and yes it keeps you down. I mentioned it to him and he said he's not worried about catching it because he had it back in 1958. Luckily, Mom and Dad didn't catch it, but Hubby did. We live out here in Southern CA and my husband plays a lot of beach Volleyball. He is out there at least twice a week getting lots of natural Vitamin D (definitely too much sun as his dermatologist keeps telling him), but it couldn't protect him from my Germs!

Felicia

I have used olive leaf extract for 5 years now against the seasonal flu.It works as well as a garlic overload without the smelly results.I friend told me that an old lady had told him and it works,He didn't know why or how but said it works.The first 3 years I tried it without asking why it worked.Then I googled it one day and found plenty of websites saying why it worked.I also found that it works so well that it kills the good guys off too.The ones you need to digest your food properly.They recommend eating a little yogurt.The Olive Leaf Extract would plug me up for a day or two without the use of the yogurt.I take one tablet at the first sign of sickness(a tickle in my throat or a drip from my nose or the residents and co workers in the nursing home being sick.)I wake up the next day fine to go into work with alot of my co workers off to see the doctor for an antibiotic shot for a viral infection.The earlist you catch it the easier it is to stop it. I take 1 capsule at first sign with a glass of water and one within 8 hours with my meal.If If I missed taken it at first sign I must take 2 the following day.Then I am done 4 capsules in two days compared to a week of sickness with or without seeing the doctor.I still had 30 capsules from the first 60 capsule bottle from Wal~Mart five years ago.I bought 2 new bottles since those were 5 years old and only $6 a bottle.If the pig flu comes before the vaccine I am ready.If the vaccine comes or not I am ready.I take a vitamin D supplement every now and then. Am I absorbing it I do not know.My residents and I get 15-30 minutes of sun a day. Does it help? I am sure it helps liften the spirits of the Alzheimer's residents.Maybe even helps their immune system.A+ We drink Orange Juice and I take a fruity tasting vitamin C more often if I feel something coming on or if I see it is in the air.And once in a while I throw a table spoon of minced garlic on a piece of bread this will stop the growth if you catch it early.This is what I do.The one problem I found was:If you start the Olive Leaf Extract or the garlic once you are very sick,The next day will be spent in or close to the bathroom.If you live through that day you will feel better.To avoid that do not wait. Start at first signs.If you want to learn more about it just google Olive Leaf Extract cures the swine flu.Here is one such hit
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/...-to-do_b_286245.html
HUGS Marcus

Thank you Marcus!

Felicia

5 Ways to Treat The Flu
http://www.healthiertalk.com/5-ways-treat-flu-0967