Vitamin D and Disease

  A recent study out of Israel had once again confirmed that vitamin D levels may determine whether covid causes serious illness or not. In this study those with low blood levels of vitamin D (<20 ng/mL) were 14 times more likely to have severe or critical disease than patients with 25(OH)D ≥40 ng/mL. The higher level used in this study (40 ng/mL) is the low end of adequate vitamin D intake. The conclusion of the study was, "Among hospitalized COVID-19 patients, pre-infection deficiency of vitamin D was associated with increased disease severity and mortality."

I first wrote about the value of vitamin D in fighting the flu in 2007. 

Links-- Click on links to see articles

Dror AA, Morozov N, Daoud A, Namir Y, Yakir O, Shachar Y, et al. (2022) Pre-infection 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 levels and association with severity of COVID-19 illness. PLoS ONE 17(2): e0263069. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0263069

Vitamin D and Covid

 A recent study found that exposure to sunlight that can increase vitamin D levels prior to infection with Covid-19 reduced risk of hospitalization and death from the virus. This is hardly surprising news as the benefits of vitamin D against influenza have been noted for years.

Article on Sunlight, Vitamin D and Covid-19

Plant Extracts and Flu

 A recent study looked at aronia (chokeberry), green tea, pomegranate juice, and elderberry. All inactivated influenza virus. Only the chokeberry decreased infectiveness of Covid-2. These were test tube studies. Work needs to be done to see if these anthocyanin compounds are helpful within the body. Researchers from pharmaceutical firms are looking at combining plant catechins with zinc as a possible treatment for Covid. Many plant extracts have anti-viral activity. If you have not tried NeoLife's Tre, a blend of powerful polyphenols and anthocyanins, you should do so. It has a wonderful taste as well as powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. It can also bypass the blood-brain barrier and benefit brain functioning.

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Article on Plant Extracts and Influenza