Vitamin D-3 & Viral Infections

Vitamin D-3 in the Prevention & Treatment of Viral Infections and Influenza

Supplemental cholecalciferol (vitamin D) significantly reduces all-cause
mortality emphasizes the medical, ethical, and legal implications of promptly
diagnosing and adequately treating vitamin D deficiency. Vitamin D deficiency is
common, and is implicated in most of the diseases of civilization.

Vitamin D-3 is a steroidal hormone that targets more than 200 human genes in
a wide variety of tissues. With genes as its target, vitamin D has been shown to
up-regulate the gene that is involved in the production of cathelicidin, a
naturally occurring broad-spectrum antibiotic.

Treatment of vitamin D deficiency, in otherwise healthy persons involves
dosages between 2,000-7,000 IU vitamin D-3, daily.  With serious systemic
illnesses, associated with vitamin D deficiency, such as cancer, heart disease,
multiple sclerosis, diabetes, autism, the doses should be somewhat higher to
maintain 25(OH)D levels between 55 -70 ng per mL.

Vitamin D-deficient patients with serious illness should not only be
supplemented more aggressively than the well, they should have more frequent
monitoring of serum 25(OH)D and serum calcium.

NOTE: Doses of vitamin D-3 (2,000 IU per kg per day for three days) may produce  
enough of the naturally occurring antibiotic cathelicidin to cure common viral  
respiratory infections, such as influenza and the common cold, but such a theory  
awaits further science. This is a very high dosage regimen.  For general use,  
Vitamin D-3 dosages of 2,000 to 5,000 IU are sufficient to enhance immune  function
and minimize flu symptoms, if exposed to the virus.

Vitamin D-3 is very inexpensive, about $4 per month.  Because Vitamin D-3 is
oil-soluble, it must be taken with an oil capsule, of almost any type.

Source: David S. Klein, MD, FACA, FACPM is the Medical Director of the Pain Center of  
Orlando, Inc.  A graduate of the University of Maryland School of Medicine, Dr.  Klein
received training in General Surgery at the University of North Carolina,  
and Anesthesiology at Duke University.