Vitamin D Supplements Reduce Viral Re-activation in Winter Months

Researchers tested doses of 2,000 IU per day and 10,000 IU per day of vitamin D for six months¹ in 29 Antartic workers who were deprived of sunlight.  Both dosing regimens were effective at preventing re-activation of the Epstein Barr Virus (EBV), which causes fatigue when activated.

Just about everyone has been exposed to the EBV virus at one time or another. These viruses tend to live in a subclinical situation in the liver, voice box, and even white adipose tissue. They are kept in check by your immune system and pose little threat to your health. However, if you become worn down or stressed then EBV can activate because your immune system no longer has the energy to keep EBV in a subclinical state. On the one hand, this makes you more susceptible to any other viral infection.  n cases of EBV flare up it causes fatigue by hijacking your energy producing functions within the mitochondria Organelle found in cells that produce ATP or chemical energy. Also involved with cell signaling, cellular differentiation, cell death, cell growth, along with heme and steroid synthesis. of your cells. It causes you to make lactic acid instead of energy, resulting in excess fatigue. In more extreme cases it results in chronic fatigue.

Both doses of vitamin D raised vitamin D levels about 33%, although they were still below what most researchers now consider optimal for immune system function and prevention of cancer.  However, the increased levels were adequate to prevent an EBV flare up due to the stress of no sun for such an extended period of time.  This data has application value for EBV in particular and general anti-viral defense during the long winter months for everyone.