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

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

Author: David S. Klein, MD

Date: September 23, 2009

David S. Klein, MD, FACA, FACPM
Stages of Life, Inc.

Pain Center of Orlando, Inc.
225 W. SR 434, Suite #205
Longwood, Florida  32750

407-679-3337

www.suffernomore.com
www.stages-of-life.com

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 asits target, vitamin D has been shown to up-regulate the gene that is in volved 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.

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

. 

Dr. Klein has been in private practice for 25 years and is a well published author, lecturing regionally and nationally on topics ranging from nutritional intervention, hormone replacement and pain treatment.