[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/betterbones.com\/bone-nutrition\/low-vitamin-d-means-more-flu\/#Article","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/betterbones.com\/bone-nutrition\/low-vitamin-d-means-more-flu\/","headline":"Low vitamin D means more flu","name":"Low vitamin D means more flu","description":"Print PDF eBook Facebook Twitter Gmail LinkedIn Pinterest Did you ever wonder why you end up suffering from the flu nearly every winter? You may not be getting enough vitamin D. The darker winter months are when our sun-dependent vitamin D levels are at their lowest. Among its many other actions, vitamin D stimulates and […]","datePublished":"2015-11-06","dateModified":"2026-04-22","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/betterbones.com\/author\/brownbetterbonesgmail-com\/#Person","name":"Dr. Susan E. Brown, PhD","url":"https:\/\/betterbones.com\/author\/brownbetterbonesgmail-com\/","identifier":72,"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8e08d87bd45250c6616e1752933a6576aba077f335d97ee337a0cde5e435cbd3?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8e08d87bd45250c6616e1752933a6576aba077f335d97ee337a0cde5e435cbd3?s=96&d=mm&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Center for Better Bones","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/betterbones.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Better-Bones-AMP.png","url":"https:\/\/betterbones.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Better-Bones-AMP.png","width":150,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/betterbones.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/image-1.png","url":"https:\/\/betterbones.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/image-1.png","height":1109,"width":2120},"url":"https:\/\/betterbones.com\/bone-nutrition\/low-vitamin-d-means-more-flu\/","video":{"@context":"http:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"VideoObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=KLOI5KPeDaY#VideoObject","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=KLOI5KPeDaY","name":"How Much Vitamin D do you need?","description":"In this video, Dr. Brown briefly discusses the function of vitamin D, and how much you need as we move into the colder months.\n\n\u2192 Want to learn everything you need to manage & reverse your osteoporosis\/osteopenia naturally in one inspiring weekend with Dr. Brown? Join our bone health retreat & workshop! Learn more here: https:\/\/shop.betterbones.com\/pages\/love-your-bones-love-your-life-virtual-retreat\n\n\u2192 If you are interested in working with Dr. Brown to develop a personalized natural bone health program, read more about consultations here: https:\/\/www.betterbones.com\/consultations\/help-osteoporosis-osteopenia-fracture-healing-bone-health-concerns\/\n\n\u2192 Would you like your questions answered by Dr. Brown?  Comment below and she may address them in a future video!\n\nCheck out our website! \u2192 http:\/\/ www.betterbones.com\n\nWant to connect with Better Bones on social media?\nLike on Facebook \u2192 http:\/\/www.facebook.com\/betterbonesbetterbody\n\u200bFollow on Twitter \u2192 http:\/\/www.twitter.com\/drsusanbrown\n\u200bFollow our Instagram \u2192 http:\/\/www.instagram.com\/betterbonesbetterbody\n\u200bCheck out our Pinterest \u2192 http:\/\/www.pinterest.com\/betterbonesbetterbody\n\n#osteoporosis #osteopenia #bonemass #bonehealth #weightandbonemass #womenshealth #drsusanbrown #betterbonesbetterbody #preventosteoporosis","thumbnailUrl":["https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/KLOI5KPeDaY\/default.jpg","https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/KLOI5KPeDaY\/mqdefault.jpg","https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/KLOI5KPeDaY\/hqdefault.jpg","https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/KLOI5KPeDaY\/sddefault.jpg","https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/KLOI5KPeDaY\/maxresdefault.jpg"],"uploadDate":"2017-09-01T18:03:32+00:00","duration":"PT3M","embedUrl":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/KLOI5KPeDaY","publisher":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCm6Zry9uGdrZpm05sQLIxMw#Organization","url":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCm6Zry9uGdrZpm05sQLIxMw","name":"Dr. Susan E. Brown","description":"Dr. Susan E. Brown, PhD, is a medical anthropologist, a New York State Certified Nutritionist, and the author of Better Bones, Better Body -- the first comprehensive look at natural bone health. Dr. Brown specializes in osteoporosis, osteopenia, bone health regeneration, and auto-immune disease. She is also famous for her natural approach to bone health; check out her Better Bones programs and products.","logo":{"url":"https:\/\/yt3.ggpht.com\/ytc\/AIdro_m0l08uY9k8RO1FbN8-VsYIOa8fiq9BtocNNM_k3xw7a7s=s800-c-k-c0x00ffffff-no-rj","width":800,"height":800,"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=KLOI5KPeDaY#VideoObject_publisher_logo_ImageObject"}},"potentialAction":{"@type":"SeekToAction","@id":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=KLOI5KPeDaY#VideoObject_potentialAction","target":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=KLOI5KPeDaY&t={seek_to_second_number}","startOffset-input":"required name=seek_to_second_number"},"interactionStatistic":[[{"@type":"InteractionCounter","@id":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=KLOI5KPeDaY#VideoObject_interactionStatistic_WatchAction","interactionType":{"@type":"WatchAction"},"userInteractionCount":328}],{"@type":"InteractionCounter","@id":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=KLOI5KPeDaY#VideoObject_interactionStatistic_LikeAction","interactionType":{"@type":"LikeAction"},"userInteractionCount":6}]},"about":["Bone Nutrition"],"wordCount":424,"keywords":["total health","Vitamin D","flu"],"articleBody":" Print PDF eBook\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tFacebook\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tTwitter\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tGmail\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tLinkedIn\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tPinterest\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tDid you ever wonder why you end up suffering from the flu nearly every winter? You may not be getting enough vitamin D.The darker winter months are when our sun-dependent vitamin D levels are at their lowest.Among its many other actions, vitamin D stimulates and supports immune function. And in temperate latitudes, researchers find that pandemic influenzas generally show clear seasonality.In other words: More cold dark days, more flu.Table of ContentsToggle     2 Minutes ReadGrowing research connects vitamin D and influenzaProtect yourself from winter flu related to low vitamin DGrowing research connects vitamin D and influenzaWomen given 800 IU of vitamin D daily were 3 times less likely to report cold and flu symptoms than those not given vitamin D. This study was a randomized controlled trial looking at bone loss in postmenopausal African American women.A study with intake of 2,000 IU of vitamin D daily for one year efficiently protected women against typical winter colds and influenza.A trial comparing vitamin D supplements with placebos in schoolchildren found that only 1,200 IU per day of vitamin D during winter and early spring reduced the incidence of seasonal influenza by a factor of two.Protect yourself from winter flu related to low vitamin DMaintain a 50 to 60 ng\/ml vitamin D level all year round to get the fullest possible benefits from vitamin D.Get your vitamin D tested now to prepare for the winter. To get your level to the optimal 50 to 60 ng\/ml some may require the intake of 4,000 to 5,000 IU daily of vitamin D or even more. For others lesser doses are sufficient. Some people absorb vitamin D better than others, some seem to have a higher need and others have higher reserves from the summer. Test Your Vitamin D at Home!Determine how much extra D you need.  As a rule of thumb, for every 1,000 IU increase in vitamin D your vitamin D blood level will increase by 10 ng\/ml. So if you measure your level in December and it is 30 ng\/ml, you would add 2,000 IU more vitamin D to your daily supplement program to get to a 50 ng\/ml.Here\u2019s to a happy, healthy winter season! Reference:Cauley JA, Chlebowski RT, Wactawski-Wende J, et al. Calcium plus vitamin D supplementation and health outcomes 5 years after active intervention ended: the Women’s Health Initiative. J Women\u2019s Health (Larchmt). 2013;22:915-929.Our full supplement guide reviews the evidence \u2014 see our guide to bone health supplement guide."},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Bone Nutrition","item":"https:\/\/betterbones.com\/bone-nutrition\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Low vitamin D means more flu","item":"https:\/\/betterbones.com\/bone-nutrition\/low-vitamin-d-means-more-flu\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]