High monthly vitamin D reduces respiratory infections

[gerald]

Interesting study, puts some numbers around Vitamin D that was mentioned in earlier studies.  This is the first mention of increase numbers of falls


-------------------------------

High monthly vitamin D reduces respiratory infections, may increase falls for older adults

Summary: Researchers concluded that a monthly high dose of vitamin D reduced the number of respiratory infections in older adults but increased the number of falls they experienced. More study is needed to see whether daily (rather than monthly) dosing with high levels of vitamin D could help protect older adults from respiratory infections and minimize the risk of falls, said the researchers.



Older adults who live in long-term care facilities are at especially high risk for these respiratory infections because their immune response tends to be weaker than those living in other settings. Strengthening older adults' immunity could be one way to reduce their chances of contracting respiratory infections.

Because vitamin D plays an important role in immunity, researchers decided to find out whether high monthly doses of vitamin D could lessen the number of respiratory infections experienced by older adults living in long-term care facilities. Their study was published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.

Participants in the study included 107 adults, aged 60 and older, who lived in long-term care facilities in Colorado. Half the group members (also known as the "high-dose group") who were already taking zero to 1,000 International Units (or IUs, a measurement for vitamins) per day of vitamin D and got an additional dose of 100,000 IU of vitamin D once a month. The other half of the group (also known as the low-dose group) received a placebo (a pill that has no effect and includes no active medication) once a month depending on how much vitamin D they took daily or monthly.

Researchers counted the number of acute respiratory infections needing medical attention (common colds, sinusitis, middle ear infections, acute bronchitis, influenza, and pneumonia) that participants experienced during the study's 12-month follow-up period. The researchers also counted falls, fractures, kidney stones, hospitalizations, and deaths during the study period.

The researchers reported that people in the high-dose vitamin D group had 40 percent fewer respiratory infections during the 12-month follow-up period compared to people in the low-dose group. However, the people in the high-dose group had more than twice the number of falls compared to people in the low-dose group.

The researchers concluded that a monthly high dose of vitamin D reduced the number of respiratory infections in older adults but increased the number of falls they experienced.

There was no link to increases in bone fractures in the study group. More study is needed to see whether daily (rather than monthly) dosing with high levels of vitamin D could help protect older adults from respiratory infections and minimize the risk of falls, said the researchers.

This summary is from "High Dose Monthly Vitamin D for Prevention of Acute Respiratory Infection in Older Long-Term Care Residents: A Randomized Clinical Trial." It appears online ahead of print in the January 2017 issue of the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. The study authors are Adit A. Ginde, MD, MPH; Patrick Blatchford, PhD; Keith Breese, MA; Lida Zarrabi, MPH; Sunny A. Linnebur, PharmD; Jeffrey I. Wallace, MD, MPH; and Robert S. Schwartz, MD.

Story Source:

Materials provided by American Geriatrics Society. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.
www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/01/170105123154.htm

[David]

In my blood test the doctor told me my D vitamin was low so he told me to take D vitamins.

I have been taking Vitamin D-3 5,000 IU for about 3 years now.

Hopefully it has helped me.

[gerald]

David, previous studies have found significant benefits from Vitamin D3 when the person is low in D3.   When there is no shortage of D3 they have not been able to definitively prove a gain.   And I think in this study they are talking of the additional dose being 100,000 units, which would seem excessive to me.

My doctor also recommended I take 5000 units to replinish what the cortisteriods depleted

[lavishgail]

I take 4,000 Iu a day, my doctor said that was fine. But when I'm extremely low they give me by prescription one a week at 50,000 Iu and you sure can tell when you're low you're whole body hurts. People up North are usually pretty low with not much sun and to much snow.

[lavishgail]

Idk where you could get that much Gerald unless by a doctor? Or you're taking the whole bottle?

[gerald]

Gail, I think you are right, when you get into the mega doses you would need a perscription.   
One of the unfortunate things is they do not bother to find out what is making the levels go
 that low.  It is a symptom of something.

[lavishgail]

Not enough sun!

[jarca]

My old GP gave me a prescription for 50,000iu pill when she tested me & saw i was low....no way would i take that!
So i went & got 1000iu of D3 & took it. 
when my new PCP checked i was still a bit low so i went on 2000iu & have been on that amount for 5 years now & my tests always show good.

In 2012 i had a bone density test that showed I was at fracture level osteoporosis. This year my bone density had improved to osteopenia, which my PCP said is because the D3 is working & i'm now absorbing the calcium...so i am happy with a simple vitamin. 

Gerald, now days we wear sun screen & protect ourselves from the sun because of the fear of skin cancer so as i result we don't get the vitamin D that we would naturally from the sun. 
www.healthline.com/health/vitamin-d-deficiency#Outlook6 

[justacaregiver]

You can always ask your Primary to add a Vitamin D Hydroxy the next time they send you for labs. 

[ozboy]

My recent bone density test showed up as WHO standard criteria for Osteoporosis....Because I have never broken or fractured a bone in my life, i am not able to take any sort of medication.....The only alternative is to reduce any Prednisone intake which is easier said than done..My calcium levels are excellent but still take 2000 IU daily....

[lavishgail]

Exactly Peter, I agree. The doctors will say anything to make money off you! And when a person is sickly they're rubbing there hands together with $$ signs in they're eyes!!

I read that 10 minutes of sun a day on you're hands is all the vitamin D you need!

Sure the sun is not out every day so take a vitamin supplements. Good to Go. Never mind all these test for bones and this and that. I do draw the line!

This coming week,they are doing ANOTHER pulmonary function test..
What's that going to tell this NEW DOCTOR? anything different,from 3 months ago that the other doctor across the hall did? And 2 months be4 that? Really? They were suppose to do a 6 minutes walk with me? Now I get a paperwork in the mail about this really? She still has not gone over my sleep test yet? WHAT IS WRONG WITH MY DOCTORS?
THEY THINK I'M A JOKE?
I'VE HAD IT.

[justacaregiver]

Ozboy, Please be careful with the calcium. There have been studies where it has blocked arteries.

Gail, If you put more than one Doctor in a room, there's sure to be an argument. All these fancy, expensive computer programs and still, they won't talk to each other. Change this, do that, go here and see this guy. It's non-stop.

[lavishgail]

Yes Gary you're right! I'm going to call tomorrow and ask what's wrong? And why she has not looked over any of my tests?
Not that any of my phone calls will be answered it's pulling teeth!

[justacaregiver]

Gail, those are your tests and therefor, they're your results. You did yours by showing up for what was ordered and now it's their job to answer your questions, I was lead down the primrose path before and assumed that "no news is good news". In reality, no news is no news. You have every right to know what's going on with your health. Not only is it your right, you're taking responsibility. Take it from me on this one, what they're doing to you isn't right.

[barb7330]

Drs. today don't seem to care ...We need to go back to the days when Drs. stopped around to see you at your house...The pharmaceutical companys are getting rich on us , but what can we do about it.

[ozboy]

Gail....i suppose it is different in Australia as most of our care is free, so it is just having to turn up...My new Pulmo who is also the State Oxygen Tester is wonderful and spends plenty of time with you..It was his idea to do the home sleep study when i casually mentioned i was getting morning headaches and a feeling lethargic at times during the day.....He feels that is a sign of possible retention desaturation, during deep sleep that goes as soon as i wake up, so oximeter reading is not accurately reading the night saturation......anyway i get the results end of the month.....

The Vit.D3 is only 2000IU and that is just to cover my Steroids in Seretide and Frequent need for Prednisone...plus I got one of those Diabetic's Tester to keep tabs on blood sugar levels....Not much I can do if the Osteo develops further...

We have a Doctor's on Call service that come to your home mainly A.Hrs n weekends all day...which is free and covered by our Medicare...but they are only good for writing scripts and every day health issues....

Re-PFT's...I like to be informed and get copies of the tests straight after, even if there is no conclusion report done....besides the only numbers i am interested in is the DLCO because of gas exchange issues....

[justacaregiver]

Ozboy, I don't know if it's available there, but we use a machine called the Trilogy 100. It's not a bi-pap or a c-pap. What it is called as an AVAPS. The best way for me to explain is ....... the Doctor will take the results of your sleep study and / or a nocturnal oximetry  and write a script. The provider brings you the machine and sets it to the Doctors order. Now, the machine, in the passive mode is self titrating. If you need more, it will give you more and if you need less, it will give you less. The Bi-pap is mechanically set and you won't get any "wiggle room".

The way it was explained, because of our bio clocks, when a person, even a person with healthy lungs sleeps, our lungs are at their worst. This machine helps you blow off the extra CO2 and within just a short matter of time, the user wakes up without the headaches and "hung over" feeling.

I don't know if this the answer for you, but for us, it's really helped.

[ozboy]

The only Trilogy Machine I know of is marketed as ''Astral 150'' It has both B-Pap and Ventilation Functions. A "regular" BiPAP is portable w/ a battery pack and power cord. If you are not venting, a Trilogy is a large AVAPS (volume controlled) BiPAP equivalent.

I get confused with all these new equipment.....The only one I guess that I might need in the future is a B-Pap for sleep or a V-Pap that has both Oxygen or Air set up....

[justacaregiver]

Ozboy, With the Astral platform a suite of advanced modes including assisted volume control, assisted pressure control, pressure SIMV, volume SIMV, pressure support and CPAP are available. While there are many ventilators in the current market for non-invasive and invasive support, there are limited machines offering advanced protective modes of ventilation at a competitive price point.


This sure looks like the same thing as the Trilogy to me too.

[ozboy]

Sorry bout late reply but they had issues with the Astral..No idea if it has been sorted yet as this was 2015

www.tga.gov.au/alert/astral-100-and-astral-150-ventilators

[justacaregiver]

It seems like nothing goes quickly when you need it.

[ozboy]

Pretty good video explaining how a Triology Unit works......