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Vitamin D Newsletter

Newsletter

Vitamin D and pulmonary function

Peter from North Dakota writes:

Dr. Cannell: Last winter, I was having trouble breathing and fever and chills. It hurt when I breathed on the left side. My family doctor found a collection of fluid on the left lung and wanted to drain some of the fluid but I refused. After some research, I determined my problem was most likely pleurisy. From my research, the primary method of treatment is antibiotics. I didn't like that idea, so I started 50,000 IU  of Vitamin D per day. My pain was gone within two weeks and my chest x-ray was normal in four weeks. Should I continue taking 50,000 IU per day?

I hope you continue your website. Your articles are touching so many people. Thanks again for all you do!

Dr. Cannell replies:

You took a chance with your life. Fluid collection in the pleural space can be caused from lots of things, including cancer, blood clots, heart disease, and tuberculosis; that's why the doctor wanted to get some of the fluid, to make an accurate diagnosis. Be sure you have repeat chest X-rays and a thorough medical examination. Stop the 50,000 IU per day and go down to 5,000 IU per day and have a 25(OH)D blood test in about four months.

That said, you will love reading this 1946 paper. It is available for free PDF download in its entirety: Vitamin D—Its Bactericidal Action.

Page last edited: 08 November 2010