Sunshine Vitamin - the New- age Immune Booster

Vitamin D, also called the sunshine vitamin, and considered for decades to be needed only for the health of our bones, is emerging as an essential enhancer of our body’s immune system. Recent research findings are increasingly ascribing a key immune- boosting role for this vitamin.

Scientists were surprised to find that patients of tuberculosis undergoing treatment with anti-tubercular medicines cleared their infection faster, and recovered earlier when given Vitamin D in addition.

The research, conducted in England, showed that recovery was almost two weeks faster when vitamin D was added with the infection clearing in 23 days on average, compared with 36 days if they were given antibiotics alone.

Dr Adrian Martineau, from Queen Mary University of London, said "This isn't going to replace antibiotics, but it may be a useful extra weapon, andthere could be an even greater role in preventing the disease.

One in three people have low levels of tuberculosis bacteria in their lungs and have no symptoms, known as latent tuberculosis. However, this turns to full blown TB in about 10% of people. Prof Davies's idea is that giving vitamin D supplements, for example in milk, could prevent latent TB developing.

The idea of using vitamin D to treat tuberculosis (TB) harks back to early times. Before antibiotics were discovered, TB patients were prescribed "forced sunbathing", known as heliotherapy which increased vitamin D production. Many returned cured after a few months of sun bathing in the hills. However, the treatment disappeared when antibiotics proved successful at treating the disease.

Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin which can provide for the body's needs in one of two ways...through the action of sunlight on the skin, or through the major food sources of cod liver oil, cold-water fish, butter, and egg yolks.  When the sun shines on the skin, the ultraviolet rays activate a form of cholesterol which is present in the skin, converting it to Vitamin D.  Because the body can provide sufficient Vitamin D to meet its needs simply through exposure to sunlight, it is called the “Sunshine Vitamin”

Vitamin D is needed to stimulate the absorption of calcium.  A Vitamin D deficiency causes rickets in children, and osteomalacia in adults.

It is now known that Vitamin D plays a huge part in boosting the immune system.  One of the best ways to prevent colds, flu, cancer, or any chronic disease is with Vitamin D.  In order to correct the deficiency condition which most people have but don't know they have, 5,000 IU's a day are necessary.   After taking this much for about a month, you will have filled your need for Vitamin D for normal daily processes, and then some of the deeper needs can be filled. 

It is a pity that we do not use the abundant sunshine adequately and keep ourselves toned, fit and boosted!

As published in HT City ( Hindustan Times) dated 10th February, 2013.