Vitamin D and lung infection. I don't care to get into long argument about

[snagglepuss]

Vitamin D but people should be reading the extensive literature about Vitamin D and its role in lung health.

Below is a short article about one study regarding Vitamin D and lung infections. The study was published in the Journal of Immunology, November 2008.

snip

"The active form of vitamin D is known to affect the expression of more than 200 genes, so we were interested both in the possible lung-specific production of active vitamin D and in vitamin D-dependent production of proteins that fight infections."

snip

Vitamin D converted by the kidneys circulates in the bloodstream, but vitamin D converted by other organs appears to stay within those organs and protect them from infection," Hansdottir said. "We were able to see this happen in cells lining the trachea and main bronchi."

The team also found that when lung airway cells are infected by a virus, they express more of the enzyme that activates vitamin D. Hansdottir said the team is very interested in pursuing studies on the role of viral infections in vitamin D production and subsequent effects on lung infections.

"Vitamin D not only increases proteins involved in bacterial killing but also can dampen inflammation," Hansdottir said. "Controlling inflammation through vitamin D is good because too much inflammation can cause problems such as sepsis and seems to contribute to autoimmune disease."


http://www.news-medical.net/news/2008/11/05/42448.aspx



Before anyone goes off about BigPharma just trying to peddle another vitamin, please note that patents aren't allowed on Vitamin D and Vitamin D is hardly a money maker at 2.8 cents per pill.

Also be advised that a group of Vitamin D scientists from top North Amercan universities have formed a consortium called Grass Roots Health to directly educate the public about Vitamin D because they are fed up that institutions, like the FDA are dragging its feet in regards to changing recommended daily intake of Vitamin D given the research that shows widespread D defiency world wide.

Through this organization you can sign up to have Vitamin D levels tested twice yearly for 5 years for $40.00 per test.

If you can think of any other situation where scientists have formed a consortium because they are so concerned about a vitamin defiency please let me know. For the list of scientists and their respective universities, as well as their Call To Action, go to grassrootshealth. net

[SoFlaJet]

1. I started taking Vitamin D

supplements after hearing of all the benefits especially in helping with pain. I keep hearing good things about it, so I'm taking it.

[snagglepuss]

3. Good to hear. Grassroots Health has excellent video/slide presentations about

Vitamin D. What it is and how it actually works on the cellular level.


http://www.grassrootshealth.net/documentation

[ananda]

8. I take Calcium with D2 and D3.

Plus I eat and drink a lot of goat dairy every day.

[snagglepuss]

9. That's good but its important to be tested. Find out your level.

[pnwmom]

2. My doctor told both me and my son that our levels were too low and that

we need to supplement. Not surprising, living here.

[still_one]

4. more and more people are being found to be vit D deficient

some because of the use of sun screens, and because less consumption of dairy

people should have a vit D profile to find out if they are D3 deficient

[snagglepuss]

6. People definitely need to be tested. Grasshealth is offering the $40.00 test

to determine deficiency. The are hoping for millions of participants.

[Pharaoh]

5. Sunshine and milk

the only 2 sources of vitamin D you need.

[snagglepuss]

7. No so. Vitamin D deficiency is world wide. 70% of US children are deficient.

Also people over 65 are significanly less able to manufacture Vitmin D through their skin. Dark skinned people living anywhere north of the equator are also significantly deficient.

http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/08/03/vitamin.d.children/

[Pharaoh]

12. And look at the sunscreen

we slather on the kids, and then we wonder why they are lacking it?

[snagglepuss]

13. Its not so much sunscreen as kids sitting in front of computers and not going outside.

The lack of time children play outside is well documented and contributes to an alarming increase in childhood : diabetes, high cholesterol, heart problems, obesity to name a few.

[mimitabby]

10. that might be true in Florida

but up here where I live (Seattle) most people are deficient in Vit D and it is not possible to get enough of it from the sun 6 months out of the year.
And Cow's milk with Vit D added does not give you enough either (or people wouldn't be coming up deficient in it!)

[Codeine]

14. Milk is poison. nt

[seemunkee]

11. I have low vitamin D

Been taking D3 for a few months now. I get my kidney function tested every 3 months or so and they check the vitamin D levels too.

[snagglepuss]

15. In March I got tested and had a "insufficient" level, which is one level up from "deficient"

it took me 4 months taking 2000 IU daily to get to a "sufficient" level. From July to Sept I doubled up to 4000 IUs daily to get to 50 ng/mL which is the level recommended to to strengthen immunity.

[Name removed]

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