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Vitamin D may be key to avoiding illnesses this flu season

Category: Vitamin D Deficiency-Diagnosis and Treatment

Flu season is just about upon the U.S., and this means that many people will soon start coming down with infections. However, a vitamin D test may help individuals prepare for the season and understand if they need to do more to boost their immune system.

A 2005 study published in the FASEB Journal showed that vitamin D plays a crucial role in the production of certain types of white blood cells that are need for fighting off infections. A deficiency of the nutrient may leave individuals short on these important molecules.

This is why vitamin D testing is so important. It can give individuals a sense of how well their immune system is functioning. Low levels of the nutrient may indicate a susceptibility to infections. Higher levels could mean individuals are less likely to come down with a cold or the flu.

Now is the time to start thinking about one's vitamin D status. Waiting until cold and flu season has already begun may be too late. The body may not have had enough time to start producing the immune cells that ward off infections.