Vitamins Reduce the Duration and Severity of Influenza

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Orthomolecular Medicine News Service, March 19, 2008

 

 

 

Vitamins Reduce the Duration and Severity of Influenza

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(OMNS, March 19, 2008) Vitamins fight the flu by boosting the body’s own

immune response and by accelerating healing. Individuals can be better prepared

for an influenza epidemic by learning how to use vitamin supplements to fight

off ordinary respiratory infections. The most important vitamins are

vitamins C, D, niacin, and thiamine.

 

 

Vitamin D

 

Vitamin D has known anti-viral properties [1] and has been directly

associated with fighting influenza in a recent scientific review. [2] Extensive

evidence now shows that vitamin D serves as an important regulator of immune

system responses. [3] The most dramatic evidence is a recent double-blind trial

proving that vitamin D prevents cancers [4], supported by two recent

epidemiological studies. [5,6] Vitamin D has been part of a supplement

combination

proven effective against HIV in a recent double-blind trial. [7]

 

During a viral infection, the body can draw on vitamin D stored in the body

to supply the increased needs of the immune system. The withdrawn supplies of

vitamin D are quickly replenished with 4,000 to

10,000 IU/day doses for a few days. Due to biochemical individuality, we

recommend vitamin D blood testing as a routine part of a yearly physical exam.

 

 

Niacin

 

Niacin has known anti-viral properties. The most persuasive evidence comes

from recent work with HIV patients.[8-12] Niacin is required for cells to

generate the energy they use to perform virtually all biological functions.

 

Niacin’s effectiveness fighting viruses may have to do with accelerating

wound healing as well as improving immunity. Accelerating tissue repair limits

collateral damage and minimizes the risk of secondary infection. Niacin has

been proven to promote healing of damaged skin in double-blind trials. [13]

Other recent findings (niacin reduces injury to the brain after strokes and

reduces inflammation in general) also provide evidence of healing. [14,15]

 

Niacin, 500 to 2,000 mg/day in divided doses, is generally well tolerated

during periods when the immune system is fighting viral infections. One takes

such doses for several days starting at the onset of a viral infection.

Dividing the dose reduces flushing. Using " no-flush " form niacin (inositol

hexaniacinate) eliminates the flushing side effect.

 

 

Vitamin C

 

Strong evidence shows that high doses of vitamin C prevent common colds and

reduce a cold’s severity and duration. [16] Given the similarities between

cold and influenza viruses, the scientific case for treating influenza with

vitamin C has been investigated and shown to have merit. [17] Fighting

influenza

with vitamin C has been tested in the clinical setting and reported to be

effective at very high doses. [18, 19]

 

Extraordinary quantities of vitamin C, between

20,000 and 100,000 mg/day, are surprisingly well tolerated during periods

when the immune system is fighting viral infections. These large daily amounts

are best taken divided up into as many doses per day as possible, beginning

immediately at the first sign of a viral infection. To achieve maximum effect

it is necessary to maintain high concentrations of vitamin C in the body.

Large, very frequent oral intake of vitamin C can maintain much higher blood

plasma concentrations of vitamin C than is generally believed. [16, 19, 20]

 

 

Thiamine (Vitamin B1)

 

Two items of recent scientific research have shown that the B-vitamin

thiamine has anti-viral properties. TTFD, one of the fat-soluble forms of

thiamine,

was recently proven to be a potent inhibitor of HIV virus replication [21].

Thiamine was shown to be an effective treatment for chronic hepatitis B. [22]

 

Influenza killed more people in the two years following World War I than all

soldiers killed on both sides in four years of machine-gun warfare.

Influenza has been and remains a serious threat to human health. There is a

great

deal of public concern about the possibility of a repeat of the 1918 influenza

pandemic. Vitamin C, niacin, vitamin D, and thiamine act together to

strengthen the immune system, and to optimize health. Intelligent, high-dose

vitamin

supplement use can do much to eliminate the risk of death and disability for

individuals with average health, and dramatically reduce the hospitalization

and death rates amongst the most vulnerable members of the population.

 

 

References:

 

[1] _http://www.vitamindcouncil.org_ (http://www.vitamindcouncil.org)

 

[2] Cannell JJ et al. Epidemic influenza and vitamin D. Epidemiology and

Infection. 2006. Dec;134(6):1129-40. Free access to full text paper at

_http://www.biochem.wisc.edu/courses/biochem901/secure/materials/readings/09_Can\

nell.pdf

_

(http://www.biochem.wisc.edu/courses/biochem901/secure/materials/readings/09_Can\

nell.pdf)

 

[3] Tavera-Mendoza LE, White JH. Cell defenses and the sunshine vitamin.

Scientific American, November

2007, 62-72.

 

[4] Lappe JM et al. Vitamin D and calcium supplementation reduces cancer

risk: results of a randomized trial. Am J Clin Nutr. 2007 Jun;85(6):1586-91.

 

[5] Abbas S, et al. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D and risk of postmenopausal

breast cancer - results of a large case-control study. Carcinogenesis. 2008

Jan;29(1):93-9.

 

[6] Freedman DM et al. Prospective study of serum vitamin D and cancer

mortality in the United States. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2007. Nov

7;99(21):1594-602.

 

[7] Kaiser JD et al. Micronutrient supplementation increases CD4 count in

HIV-infected individuals on highly active antiretroviral therapy: A

prospective, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial. Journal of Acquired

Immune

Deficiency Syndromes, 2006. 42(5),

523-528. " Micronutrient supplementation can significantly improve CD4 cell

count reconstitution in HIV-infected patients. . . "

 

[8] Murray MF. Niacin as a potential AIDS preventive factor. Medical

Hypotheses, 1999. 53(5), 375-379.

 

[9] Murray MF, Langan M, MacGregor RR. Increased plasma tryptophan in

HIV-infected patients treated with pharmacologic doses of nicotinamide.

Nutrition

(NY), 2001. 17(7/8), 654-656.

 

[10] Murray MF. Treatment of retrovirus induced derangements with niacin

compounds. The Foundation for Innovative Therapies, Inc., USA,

2006. 9 p. US 7012086.

 

[11] Pero RW. A method for increasing tryptophan and nicotinamide levels in

vivo, and therapeutic and monitoring methods. Lynpete Trading 6 Pty., Ltd.

Trading as Genetic Health Enterprises, S. Afr. PCT Int. Appl. 2008, 73pp. WO

2008008837 A2 20080117

 

[12] Dube MP et al. Safety and efficacy of extended-release niacin for the

treatment of dyslipidaemia in patients with HIV infection: AIDS clinical

trials group study A5148. Antiviral Therapy,

2006. 11(8), 1081-1089. " (D)doses up to 2,000 mg daily was safe,

well-tolerated and efficacious in HIV-infected subjects. . . "

 

[13] _http://www.orthomolecular.org/resources/omns/v04n01.shtml_

(http://www.orthomolecular.org/resources/omns/v04n01.shtml)

 

[14] Maynard KI. Natural neuroprotectants after stroke. Science & Medicine,

2002. 8(5), 258-267.

 

[15] Yu, Bi-lian; Zhao, Shui-ping. Anti-inflammatory effect is an important

property of niacin on atherosclerosis beyond its lipid-altering effects.

Medical Hypotheses, 2007. 69(1), 90-94.

 

[16] Hickey S, Roberts H. Ascorbate: The science of vitamin C. 2004. Lulu

Press. ISBN 1-4116-0724-4. Reviewed at

_http://www.doctoryourself.com/ascorbate.html_

(http://www.doctoryourself.com/ascorbate.html)

 

[17] _www.orthomolecular.org/resources/omns/v02n01.shtml_

(http://www.orthomolecular.org/resources/omns/v02n01.shtml)

 

[18] Ely JT. Ascorbic acid role in containment of the world avian flu

pandemic. Experimental Biology and Medicine, 2007. 232(7), 847-851.

 

[19] Cathcart RF. Vitamin C, titrating to bowel tolerance, anascorbemia, and

acute induced scurvy. Med Hypotheses. 1981 Nov;7(11):1359-76. Free access to

full text paper at _http://www.doctoryourself.com/titration.html_

(http://www.doctoryourself.com/titration.html) See also: Cathcart RF. The

third face of

vitamin C. Journal of Orthomolecular Medicine, 7:4;197-200,

1993. Free access at

_http://www.orthomoleculartherapy.net/library/jom/1992/pdf/1992-v07n04-p197.pdf_

(http://www.orthomoleculartherapy.net/library/jom/1992/pdf/1992-v07n04-p197.pdf)

or

_http://www.doctoryourself.com/cathcart_thirdface.html_

(http://www.doctoryourself.com/cathcart_thirdface.html)

 

Other Cathcart papers posted at _www.orthomed.com_ (http://www.orthomed.com)

and _http://www.doctoryourself.com/biblio_cathcart.html_

(http://www.doctoryourself.com/biblio_cathcart.html) .

 

[20] Duconge J et al. Pharmacokinetics of vitamin C: insights into the oral

and intravenous administration of ascorbate. PR Health Sciences Journal,

2008. 27:1, March.

 

[21] Shoji, Shozo et al. Thiamine disulfide as a potent inhibitor of human

immunodeficiency virus

(type-1) production. Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications,

1994. 205(1), 967-75. " The results suggest that thiamine disulfide may be

important for AIDS chemotherapy. "

 

[22] Wallace AE, Weeks WB. Thiamine treatment of chronic hepatitis B

infection. American Journal of Gastroenterology, 2001. 96(3), 864-868.

 

Nutritional Medicine is Orthomolecular Medicine

 

Orthomolecular medicine uses safe, effective nutritional therapy to fight

illness. For more information: _http://www.orthomolecular.org_

(http://www.orthomolecular.org)

 

The peer-reviewed Orthomolecular Medicine News Service is a non-profit and

non-commercial informational resource.

 

Editorial Review Board:

 

Carolyn Dean, M.D., N.D. Damien Downing, M.D. Harold D. Foster, Ph.D. Steve

Hickey, Ph.D. Abram Hoffer, M.D., Ph.D. Bo H. Jonsson, MD, PhD Thomas Levy,

M.D., J.D. Erik Paterson, M.D.

 

Andrew W. Saul, Ph.D., Editor and contact person. Email:

_omns_ (omns)

 

 

 

 

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