Study: Sun may defeat the winter flu

Study: Sun may defeat the winter flu

New lookup believed would be published in the journal epidemiology and infection in December that influenza infections that spread in the winter is a direct result of the lack of exposure to sunlight for extended periods.

This research may seem interesting, especially due to the spread of the flu in the winter as long as due to confusion and frustration for researchers in the field of infectious diseases. Increased intensity of influenza infection, especially in the last months of the winter.

This research may help save the lives of about 1 million die annually as a result of the flu and related diseases can also fight epidemics like what happened in 1918 when millions died as a result of an outbreak of deadly form of flu.

In 1981 the English epidemiologist spoke Edgar Simpson about the possibility of a flu with solar radiation over the seasons but did anyone lend him attention. But with the progress of the research, evidence emerged that the vitamin (D) which results from skin exposure to the Sun has an essential role in the immune system of the body.

Today, 25 years later, the u.s. researchers to re-examine the theory Simpson about influenza affected Sun change with the seasons.

Says Dr. Edwin Kilbourne, a professor at the Faculty of Medicine of New York that winter brings with it many factors in influenza infections including social such as overcrowding at home and not go out and gather the children of school age in school and adults in work, and relatively low air humidity for the influenza virus.

"But there is more to environmental factors," said Dr. kilbortn. "Mice experiments showed that even after control of environmental factors such as overcrowding and the humidity is a factor associated with the change of seasons completely separate from the previous factors affecting transmission."

Dr. John believe Känel from atascadero, California hospital and lead author of the new research is the Executive Director of the American Association a non-profit called vitamin D Council ... Vitamin D is believed to be the missing link.

According to a study in Känel Saint Petersburg in Russia and then was tested in Krasnodar in Russia also showed that young people who have had flu vaccinations have demonstrated immune reactions such as fever with the onset of winter more than eight times of the summer.

Another study showed that children in India who have vitamin D ratios of less than 10 nanograms per milliliter were more susceptible to respiratory infection eight times with high rates of vitamin itself.

Känel recalls also that since 1930 studies have shown that eating cod liver vitamin rich reduce infections by 50% in adults who eat them daily for four months.

Känel says that "just a few minutes of Sun in summer makes our bodies around 20,000 units (500 µg) of vitamin D ... Our bodies can create large amounts of vitamin is quickly ... There is no doubt that this happens for a reason. It is known that vitamin D is important for calcium absorption and bone formation but believed that the role of the vitamin Känel immunity is equal in importance.

However, Kilburn remained unconvinced. "I have an open mind to the study, but so far has not provided a convincing evidence." It confirms that its laboratory rats were influenced by the seasons, despite the konhavi cellar away from sunlight.

Pediatric specialist thought at the University of California that the new study more questions than answers. "However, the hypothesis is validated by experience."

It seems that Egypt to conduct those Känel experience.

"I think it is still early for that doctors recommend using vitamin D as preventive treatment against influenza." But the same Känel unwilling to risk it takes 125 mcg of vitamin per day during the winter, an amount much larger than the US health authorities recommend that doctors recommend to search for vitamin D in their patients and cure the shortfall immediately.