Vitamin D3 Dosage To Raise Immunity Against Swine Flu and Seasonal Viral Infectons: How To Do It Right.

Different people are recommending different things. Russell Blaylock M.D is saying take 5,000 UI / day and up the supplement to 15,000 UI / day if Swine Flu breaks out.

The USA RDA of 400 UI for adults and 200 UI for children is undoubtedly too low and is based on the bad science of measuring Vitamin D3 levels in deficient populations.

So what is the right dosage of Vitamin D3 to upregulate your immune system and improve your immunity to seasonal viral infections such as flu?

Researchers differ on opinions of the “right” serum levels of 25(OH)D, some saying over 50 ng/ml, some saying 70 – 90 and other suggesting 90+ (25 (OH)D is the blood test you need from your doctor to establish Vitamin D blood levels).

The first thing to realise is that too much D3 can lead to kidney stones and calcium deposits in other soft tissues – so it’s not a case of grab a bottle and pop away relentlessly. Not much point giving yourself kidney stones when trying to defend against Swine flu eh?

People who work outdoors a lot often have serum levels of well over 100 and up to 150 ng/ml. What supplementation you will need will depend on your body, how much sun exposure you get, the latitude you live at and a number of other factors. The good news is it does not need to be a hit and miss affair as you can get your blood tested to establish your levels quite simply.

Based on a consensus of opinions to be found by medical researchers and doctors who actively use and promote D3 with their patients, and the experience at the Central Wisconsin Centre 50 – 100 ng/ml will provide good defences and 70 – 100 is ideal.

The best supplements are the gelcap variety where the D3 is dissolved in Olive Oil. D3 is not water soluble and these offer a more effective transition from the gut to the bloodstream.

D3 is stored in the body for up to three months so you don’t need to take the supplement daily. This means you can buy a higher dose supplement (e.g. 5,000 UI/cap) which is more cost effective, start taking it and after two months get your 25 (OH)D serum levels tested by your medical practitioner. You can get a test done right away to establish your base levels – if very low more aggressive supplementation to begin with is indicated whilst if your levels are nearer normal levels you can supplement in the winter months only with 1 – 2,000 UI /day.

If after a couple of months of testing your level is in the target range then stick to the dosage and get retested three months later. If your level has gone too high then instead of taking teh supplement daily take it once every other day or one day in three. Again go back and get tested after three months to  be sure it’’s right.

In summer, if you get full body skin exposure to the sun on a regular basis it is unlikely you need supplements. If you don’t then it may be wise to continue supplementing with a minimum 1,000 UI / day.

Whatever you do it is wise to work with your physician and have testing repeated at annual intervals once you have worked out the right regime for you, just to be sure nothing changed.