Vitamin D Prevents Swine flu?

While there is not yet any definite evidence that vitamin D will prevent the H1N1 swine flu infection, there is some evidence to suggest that sufficiency of vitamin D can help prevent the seasonal flu and therefore perhaps the swine flu as well.

It has been suggested that a deficiency of vitamin D can occur in the winter months because of less sun exposure during this time, which may be one of the reasons why there is greater proliferation of the infection during the colder periods of the year. It is also seen that Flu outbreaks tend to occur in places where solar radiation is low.

This is why, many medical practitioners advise that those who are not getting sufficient sun exposure should consider a vitamin D supplement, which will also strengthen the immune system.

Some doctors and in particular proponents of alternative medicine even go so far as to say that if one is not deficient in vitamin D, then one does not even need the flu shot, which allegedly has side effects ranging from headaches to allergic reactions. However, the mainstream thought still favors the vaccine and urges people to take the swine flu vaccine if and when available.

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