Dr. J. Cannell from the Vitamin D Council has reported in his April 21, 2010, Vitamin D Newsletter (www.vitamindcouncil.org) that Japanese researchers have found that antimicrobial peptides produced by vitamin D in the body are effective in treating influenza type A.  According to the Mayo Clinic and www.flu.gov, there are three types of flu, types A, B, and C.  Type A is the most dangerous type, and H1N1 is an example of type A.  According to NIH's Medline, type A can mutate rapidly, and this is why vaccines are needed yearly for this type of influenza to help prevent epidemics.  Type B is described as the next level down in severity, and type C is the lowest.  According to www.flu.gov, type C is what causes mild respiratory infections, i.e., the common cold or rhinovirus. 

Per Dr. Cannell, the reason that vitamin D is effective against type A influenza and not others is that the type A virus forms a lipoprotein coat around itself, and this lipoprotein coat is what the antimicrobial peptides that vitamin D produce are very good at destroying. The antimicrobial peptides literally punch holes in the lipoprotein coat.

Lipoprotein coatings are known as biofilms.  Some types of bacteria also make biofilms, such as E.coli.  MIT has developed a special form of atomic force microsopy imaging to image the holes that antimicrobial peptides make in bacterial films to destroy the bacteria.  I have not yet found any images of the antimicrobial peptides poking holes in the viral lipoprotein coats, but it is supposed to be the same method.  Following are links to articles about MIT's work, including images of the antimicrobial peptides' effects on the bacterial biofilms:

• http://www.biotechniques.com/news/Modified-AFM-captures-antimicrobial-peptides-in-action/biotechniques-217327.html
• http://www.themoneytimes.com/20100316/new-atomic-force-microscopy-system-created-id-10103986.html

The really great thing about antimicrobial peptides is that your own body makes at least two types when you maintain a healthy blood level of vitamin D.  These are called cathelicidins and defensins.  But getting a healthy level of vitamin D to produce these antimicrobial peptides can be tricky.  For example, research shows that 32 ng/ml is the minimum level needed in the body just for optimal calcium absorption [R. Vieth, U. of Toronto].  Other research shows that an optimal blood level of vitamin D is 40-60 ng/ml [M.F. Holick, U of Boston Med Center].  Yet other research indicates that the body only starts to store vitamin D at a level of 50 ng/ml [J.J. Cannell, Vitamin D Council, R. Heaney, Creighton Univ, B. Hollis, Medical Univ of South Carolina], and other research suggests virtual eradication of breast cancer at "natural" levels of 80 ng/ml [R. Vieth, U. of Toronto].  Dr. Cannell recommends an optimal level of 50-80 ng/ml [J.J. Cannell, Vitamin D Council]. 

However, most labs report an error of at least 20%, with the exception of ZRT Labs, and blood level results from the other labs need to be reduced by at least 20% to get a result that is closer to the actual value.  For those without insurance or who do not have the ability to get a vitamin D test through a doctor, ZRT vitamin D home test kits are available through the Vitamin D Council (www.vitamindcouncil.org). 

For more information about vitamin D and links to websites by vitamin D researchers, such as www.vitamindcouncil.org and also www.grassrootshealth.net, please see my profile. 

Here's to vitamin D, anti-viral and anti-bacterial antimicrobial peptides, and your health.