Flu shot vs. vitamin D — which is a better flu preventive?

Should you get a flu shot, or should you just take vitamin D?

To help answer that question, let’s look at a study that fits the criteria of “gold standard” (randomized, placebo controlled, double blind) that medical mainstreamers always insist on.

That’s right, CDC — I’m talking to you!

More than 330 school children were divided into two groups. From December 2008 through March 2009, half were given a vitamin D3 supplement — 1200 IU daily. The other group received a placebo.

Just over 10 percent came down with the flu in the D3 group, while nearly 20 percent in the placebo group developed the flu.

Now hold that thought while we revisit research from 2009 when the Cochrane Collaboration (an independent organization that reviews research) looked at every flu vaccine study conducted between 1948 and 2007.

They found “no evidence whatsoever” that seasonal flu vaccines have any effect. No reduction in cases of the flu, no reduction in deaths, and no reductions in complications.

Are you getting all this, CDC?

If so, I’ll be looking forward to your vitamin D3 campaign to kick off the 2011-2012 flu season!

Oh…and one more thing…

When I was reading my emails this weekend, I thought “Say it ain’t so, Joe.”

The Joe I was referring to was Dr. Joe Mercola.

I’ve known and admired Joe for years, so I was surprised when I saw the following headline on his Sunday email broadcast: “A Tragic Decision That May Have Cost Steve Jobs His Life?”

Especially after I just told you yesterday how I felt about The Daily Beast disrespecting Steve Jobs and his family last week by second guessing the choices he made when he was diagnosed with a rare form of pancreatic cancer. Not to mention that they went way too far by implying that he may have even shortened his life.

But once I got past the headline from DrMercola.com, I was relieved to see that Joe covered it perfectly. His respect for Jobs’ judgement was immediately evident. And it was followed with thoughtful consideration of the options available to anyone who’s currently making decisions about how to treat pancreatic cancer.

Now I know as well as anyone that shocking headlines get attention. And all of us in the media fall into the “shout and get heard” trap sometimes. This is just one more example of why I always tell you to read past the headline. It never has the whole story…and it certainly didn’t in this case.

Sources:
“Randomized Trial of Vitamin D Supplementation to Prevent Seasonal Influenza A in Schoolchildren” American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Published online ahead of print 3/10/10, ajcn.org

“Physical Interventions to Interrupt or Reduce the Spread of Respiratory Viruses: Systematic Review” British Medical Journal, Vol. 399, 9/22/09, bmj.com

“A Tragic Decision That May Have Cost Steve Jobs His Life?” Dr. Joseph Mercola, 10/9/11, mercola.com