According to a new Finnish study, having regular vitamin D supplementation can help protect individuals from the common cold and the flu virus during the ‘peak seasons’ for these diseases.  If you need a vitamin that can help reduce the number of sick days during the cold season & flu season, vitamin D just might be the protection you have been looking for.

Past studies that focused on the effects of vitamin D deficiency in the body produced interesting results: it appears that although vitamin D was primarily linked to bone health and brain health, it was also an important vitamin that helped maintained respiratory health.  Past research showed that people who did not get regular vitamin D either through supplementation or exposure to natural sunlight were more prone to developing respiratory ailments.

The study

According to Ilkka Laaksi MD, one of the key researchers of the Finnish study (which was spearheaded by scientists from the University of Tampere), vitamin D not only protected the respiratory tract from easy infection but also boosted the immune function.  Sadly, this study is a small one and no large-scale human trials have been performed to test the effectiveness of vitamin D against the common cold.  So until that time comes, it will not be recommended by doctors to ward off cold viruses.

Are there other more recent studies that supported Laaksi’s assertions regarding vitamin D?  Yes.  In Japan, a study that made use of data from almost 200 school-age children came up with the following result: children who took 1,200 international units (IU) of vitamin D were less likely to suffer from sickness caused by the influenza A virus.

Other US studies confirm that vitamin D indeed has a bearing on how the effectively the body fights off infection naturally with its own immune defenses.  If you are interested in warding off the common cold with vitamin D, you can take up to 2,000 IU of this vitamin (but no more) per day.

Tips on preventing cold & flu

1. Keep your hands clean - especially when you were out most of the day.  Simple hand-washing with warm water and soap can help protect yourself and your family from hand-transmitted pathogens.

2. Some herbs are effective against viruses.  Try any of the following: wild oregano, olive leaf, echinacea, golden seal, garlic, astralagus and vitamin C.

3. Keep your nasal passages clear of any obstructions (mucus, dirt, etc.) by using a vaporizer. When the weather is too cold and you feel stuffy, it’s time to use the vaporizer. This will prevent the common influenza virus from latching on to your respiratory tract. It will also prevent your nasal passages from becoming too dry.

4. Be a good friend - don’t spread the virus, too! Avoid visiting other people if you are sick.  Inversely, avoid visiting people when they are in the heat of their battle against flu.  Instead, wait for them to recover before paying them a visit.

Sources:
newsmaxhealth.com
coldflu.about.com
coldflu.about.com
holistichealthtools.com