Noteworthy News

   Vitamin D and H1N1 Swine Flu

Vitamin D isn’t only for bone health. Keeping your vitamin D serum level at 50–80 ng/ml seems to provide substantial protective effects against many ailments. Recent research notes D’s protective effects against diabetes, cancer, ms, and even the flu! Read on for recent observations of the protective effect of this simple, inexpensive nutrient!

A recent experience of an H1N1 outbreak at Central Wisconsin Center (CWC), a long-term care facility for people with developmental disabilities, home for approx. 275 people with approx. 800 staff, has led Norris Glick, MD, a physician at Central Wisconsin Center (CWC) to share his valuable findings.

Residents at CWC have had their vitamin D levels monitored (by Serum 25-OHD) on-goingly for several years and have received vitamin D supplementation. Dr. Glick wrote the following in an email to Dr. Cannell of the Vitamin D Council (vitamindcouncil.org):

“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 who 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.”

When this news was shared by Dr. Cannell of the Vitamin D Council, Dr. Cannell received more feedback from other docs who were noticing the same protective effects of vitamin D!

“Dear 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.”