Matti Nark
Fri, Sep-29-06, 17:15
The recent review article
Cannell JJ, Vieth R, Umhau JC, Holick MF, Grant WB, Madronich
S, Garland CF, Giovannucci E. Epidemic influenza and vitamin
D. Epidemiol Infect. 2006 Sep 7;:1-12 [Epub ahead of print]
PMID: 16959053 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] <http://jo-
urnals.cambridge.org/action/displayAbstract?fromPage=online&a-
id=469543> (abstract) <http://journals.cambridge.org/action/d-
isplayFulltext?type=1&fid=469544&jid=&volumeId=&issueId=-1&ai-
d=469543> (the whole article as PDF-file)
analyzes the associations between low vitamin D status in the
winter and influenza epidemies. Here's the abstract:
"In 1981, R. Edgar Hope-Simpson proposed that a ‘seasonal
stimulus’ intimately associated with solar radiation
explained the remarkable seasonality of epidemic
influenza. Solar radiation triggers robust seasonal
vitamin D production in the skin; vitamin D deficiency is
common in the winter, and activated vitamin D, 1,25(OH)2D,
a steroid hormone, has profound effects on human immunity.
1,25(OH)2D acts as an immune system modulator, preventing
excessive expression of inflammatory cytokines and
increasing the ‘oxidative burst’ potential of macrophages.
Perhaps most importantly, it dramatically stimulates the
expression of potent anti-microbial peptides, which exist
in neutrophils, monocytes, natural killer cells, and in
epithelial cells lining the respiratory tract where they
play a major role in protecting the lung from infection.
Volunteers inoculated with live attenuated influenza virus
are more likely to develop fever and serological evidence
of an immune response in the winter. Vitamin D deficiency
predisposes children to respiratory infections.
Ultraviolet radiation (either from artificial sources or
from sunlight) reduces the incidence of viral respiratory
infections, as does cod liver oil (which contains vitamin
D). An interventional study showed that vitamin D reduces
the incidence of respiratory infections in children. We
conclude that vitamin D, or lack of it, may be
Hope-Simpson's ‘seasonal stimulus’."
An extensive commentary:
Epidemic Influenza And Vitamin D <http://www.medicalnewstoday-
.com/medicalnews.php?newsid=51913>
--
Matti Narkia
Cannell JJ, Vieth R, Umhau JC, Holick MF, Grant WB, Madronich
S, Garland CF, Giovannucci E. Epidemic influenza and vitamin
D. Epidemiol Infect. 2006 Sep 7;:1-12 [Epub ahead of print]
PMID: 16959053 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] <http://jo-
urnals.cambridge.org/action/displayAbstract?fromPage=online&a-
id=469543> (abstract) <http://journals.cambridge.org/action/d-
isplayFulltext?type=1&fid=469544&jid=&volumeId=&issueId=-1&ai-
d=469543> (the whole article as PDF-file)
analyzes the associations between low vitamin D status in the
winter and influenza epidemies. Here's the abstract:
"In 1981, R. Edgar Hope-Simpson proposed that a ‘seasonal
stimulus’ intimately associated with solar radiation
explained the remarkable seasonality of epidemic
influenza. Solar radiation triggers robust seasonal
vitamin D production in the skin; vitamin D deficiency is
common in the winter, and activated vitamin D, 1,25(OH)2D,
a steroid hormone, has profound effects on human immunity.
1,25(OH)2D acts as an immune system modulator, preventing
excessive expression of inflammatory cytokines and
increasing the ‘oxidative burst’ potential of macrophages.
Perhaps most importantly, it dramatically stimulates the
expression of potent anti-microbial peptides, which exist
in neutrophils, monocytes, natural killer cells, and in
epithelial cells lining the respiratory tract where they
play a major role in protecting the lung from infection.
Volunteers inoculated with live attenuated influenza virus
are more likely to develop fever and serological evidence
of an immune response in the winter. Vitamin D deficiency
predisposes children to respiratory infections.
Ultraviolet radiation (either from artificial sources or
from sunlight) reduces the incidence of viral respiratory
infections, as does cod liver oil (which contains vitamin
D). An interventional study showed that vitamin D reduces
the incidence of respiratory infections in children. We
conclude that vitamin D, or lack of it, may be
Hope-Simpson's ‘seasonal stimulus’."
An extensive commentary:
Epidemic Influenza And Vitamin D <http://www.medicalnewstoday-
.com/medicalnews.php?newsid=51913>
--
Matti Narkia