Dr. Cannell’s research then led him to some remarkable discoveries about the effectiveness of vitamin D as a potent antibiotic and antiviral. Vitamin D boosts the body’s production of antimicrobial peptides, a class of proteins that quickly destroys the cell walls of bacteria, viruses (including influenza) and fungi. These peptides also keep the lungs free from infection.
But that’s not all. While vitamin D is destroying flu-causing viruses, it simultaneously performs another life-saving function. It prevents the immune system from producing a dangerous amount of inflammatory chemicals (cytokines) that attack sensitive respiratory membranes. In severe cases of the flu, this inflammation can destroy the normal cell lining of the respiratory tract.
In the early history of mankind, we wore loin cloths and spent most of our time out of doors. With only 20 minutes of full body exposure to the sun, we were able to synthesize 20,000 units of vitamin D within 48 hours. Our exposure to the sun gave us built-in immunity to contagious diseases.
Compare that to how society has evolved over the centuries. We spend most of our time indoors and perhaps get a few hundred units of vitamin D from our diet. In the past couple of decades we even started slathering our skin with sun block and now get even less vitamin D in our already deficient bodies. No wonder influenza continues to be a plague.
It is an established fact that most of us are deficient in vitamin D. Knowing this, I recently began taking 2000 units per day in supplement form, which is a safe yet effective dose. Living in Florida, I also get year-round exposure to the sun — although like most people, I’m not outdoors as much as I would like to be.
While I can’t advise you on how much vitamin D you should be taking, I can say that if you are dark skinned, elderly, or live in a northern climate, you are at a higher risk for catching the H1N1 flu due to vitamin D deficiency.
If you are in one of these high risk groups, make it a priority to have your levels checked. Dr. William Davis recommends vitamin D dosing to his patients so that they stay in the normal range of 60-70 ng/mL.2 According to Dr. Davis, since he began prescribing vitamin D, viral and bacterial infections have become a rare occurrence. Depending on your health and other factors, your doctor may determine that you need up to 5000 units of vitamin D per day, especially in the winter.