Vitamin D works better at protecting kids from the flu than antiviral medication, according research published this month in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

Children were given 1200 IUs of vitamin D or a placebo pill daily for three months.  By the second month of the study, the differences in influenza infection were obvious between the two groups.  In the end, half as many kids who took vitamin D got influenza A.

Considering the cost and side effects of antiviral medications commonly given to prevent or treat the flu, the fact that a simple and inexpensive daily dose of vitamin D could be even better is pretty cool.   On top of that, if this study is right, the fact that vitamin D is so good at preventing the flu may just explain why flu season happens during the winter months.

Vitamin D isn’t just good for the flu though.  It’s an essential vitamin for building strong bones, and a shortage of vitamin D is linked to poor bone density, osteoporosis and hip fractures.

Vitamin D has also been in the news in the UK lately, thanks to Ryan McLaughlin, a 14 year-old boy from Glasgow who petitioned parliament about a link between multiple sclerosis (MS) and vitamin D deficiency.  Thanks to Ryan’s actions, Scotland has made it a priority to provide information about the importance of vitamin D.  They’ll also be hosting an international conference to discuss the health effects of vitamin D on April 27, 2010 in Glasgow.

What does this mean for you?

It will be a while before researchers know all of the effects of vitamin D deficiency, but in the meantime, what can you do?  Usually, the human body uses sunlight to make vitamin D, so if you’re able to get outside in the sun for a little while every day, at the very least you’ll help keep your bones healthy.  If current research is on the right track though, you’ll also be helping to prevent the flu and a host of other serious diseases.  Depending on where you live in the world, vitamin D is also available in fortified dairy products, and over the counter in pills.  If you’re concerned about your own vitamin D level, talk to your doctor about whether you should consider a supplement.

Reference:

Urashima et al. Randomized trial of vitamin D supplementation to prevent seasonal influenza A in schoolchildren.  American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 2010; doi:10.3945/ajcn.2009.29094

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