It's time for an update on the flu situation. The epidemic is out of the news but, according to the CDC, is still on going with "hundreds of new cases diagnosed every day." The big question is whether this summer in the southern hemisphere (their winter) the swine flu virus will mutate into a lethal form. Nobody knows whether this will happen. In some previous epidemics, notably 1918, it happened. In other epidemics, it didn't. Since we don't know, it makes sense to me to prepare as well as practical for such a mutation. There is excellent advice about how to do this in the May edition of the Vitamin D Council newsletter. I strongly encourage you to read the May edition and subscribe to newsletter if you haven’t already.
The most interesting part of the newsletter to me was the discussion of the theory, based on patterns from previous epidemics, that taking low doses of vitamin D (1000 to 2000 IU per day) may be more dangerous than taking no vitamin D at all. The theory is that low doses of vitamin D activate the immune system but not the body's ability to control what the immune system does. This is like trying to drive a car that has an accelerator but no brakes. At higher doses of vitamin D, 5000 IU or more per day, the body gains the ability to control the immune system so that it doesn't go out of control, create an inflammatory storm, and destroy the lungs as it did in the 1918 epidemic. This is like driving a car that has both an accelerator and brakes.
Another important recommendation is to keep a good supply of vitamin D 50,000 IU capsules on hand and if you believe you are starting to get the flu, take vitamin D 1000 IU for every pound of body weight for one week. This is different from the previous recommendation to take this dose for three days if you believe you are developing any kind of infection.
There is a lot of other fascinating and valuable information in the newsletter. Here is another instance in which knowledge is power.
Probably the best thing you can do now to protect yourself in case of a lethal flu pandemic is to
- read the newsletter
- make sure you have vitamin D 50,000 IU capsules, at least 30 for each member of your family. Excellent source: Biotech Pharmacal
- Take vitamin D at least 5000 IU per day.
- In two months, do to a vitamin D test. You can order the kit for the test, which you do at home, from the Vitamin D Council website. If your level is not in the 50 to 80 ng range, adjust the dose and test again and another two months.