European regulators recognize effects of vitamin D beyond bone health

To date EFSA (the European Food Safety Agency), has published positive opinions on article 13.1 health claims relating to beneficial effects of vitamin D supplements not only on bones and teeth, but also relating to muscles, immunity, inflammation, and reproduction. * Yet the United States' Institute of Medcicine (IOM) committee did not reach similar conclusions and therefore did not consider the need for amounts higher than needed just for bone health when recently resetting the recommended and upper limits for vitamin D. (* from nutraingredients.com). For more on the FDA decision, see:
http://honestnutrition.blogspot.com/2010/11/us-increases-recommendations-for.html

Here's what the EFSA has published about these positive benefits (I bolded some text to highlight these points):


"The Panel concludes that a cause and effect relationship has been established between the dietary intake of vitamin D and contribution to the normal function of the immune system and healthy inflammatory response, and maintenance of normal muscle function."
http://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/scdocs/scdoc/1468.htm

"The Panel concludes that a cause and effect relationship has been established between the dietary intake of vitamin D and maintenance of normal bone and teeth, absorption and utilisation of calcium and phosphorus and normal blood calcium concentrations, and normal cell division."
http://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/scdocs/scdoc/1227.htm

How Nutrition Affects Swine Flu (Influenza) and Immunity

Why are the Public Health authorities silent on the role of nutrition to protect us during an official national health emergency? Do they not know, or simply not care? Is either answer acceptable to citizens concerned about their health and wanting to get practical/real/fair/impartial information that we can utilize to help protect our families? Here's what the experts are not telling us:

• Did you know that if you had the seasonal flu vaccine last year it may make you more vulnerable to the swine flu this year? Vaccines create antibodies that actually make you more susceptible to other organisms, like viruses and bacteria. (Four Canadian studies reported by CBC News, 9/23/09)
• Did you know that side effects of vaccines can be minimized if there are adequate levels of vitamin D in the person? (Epidemic influenza and vitamin D. Epidemiol Infect. 2006 Dec;134(6):1129-40. Review.)
• Did you know that a lack of vitamin D makes people far more likely to have respiratory infections? (On the epidemiology of influenza. Virol J. 2008 Feb 25;5:29. Review.) Did you know that the virus itself can become less aggressive and less prone to mutating into more dangerous forms if a person has adequate levels of nutrients, especially antioxidants? (Host nutritional status: the neglected virulence factor. Trends Microbiol. 2004 Sep;12(9):417-23. Review.)
• Did you know that antioxidants, like selenium, not only reduce our vulnerability to getting influenza but also reduce the chances that it will progress into pneumonia! (Host nutritional status: the neglected virulence factor. Trends Microbiol. 2004 Sep;12(9):417-23. Review.)