4 ms·

I've been taking Vitamin D3 5000 IU and Vitamin K2 MK-7 100 mcg daily since February to boost my immune system, and I've noticed a radical difference in my cold

I've been taking Vitamin D3 5000 IU and Vitamin K2 MK-7 100 mcg daily since February to boost my immune system, and I've noticed a radical difference in my colds. I used to get a major cold every 2-3 month and they were really bad lasting two weeks with fever, fatigue, coughs, colds, really stuffy nose, etc. Now? The two colds I've had were over in a week and the symptoms were so incredibly mild - mostly a light runny nose - that I'm legit grateful when I get a cold. Regardless of vitamin D's effect on covid-19, the supplement has already paid off big time as far as I'm concerned. I've started to take 1g of vitamin C for the same reason, i.e. to boost my immune system. I should add that I live in a Nordic country with long dark winters and that I can't/don't go outside as much as I should.

outworlder 6y ago
Vitamin C is fine. Careful with Vitamin D. When you get a chance, go see your doctor and ask him to check your vitamin D levels. Don't forget to tell them you are taking suplements.
ouid 6y ago
Don't really know why you haven't found the most obvious explanation for why you've gotten fewer colds.
- arkitaip 6y ago
  Obviously thought about that but the intensity of the colds is way different.
- ReflectedImage 6y ago
  Vitamin D has a direct effect on colds. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5949172/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5949172/
  - ColanR 6y ago
    Another study to back you up: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16959053/ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16959053/
  - ouid 6y ago
    Ok, but you know what has a really really direct effect on colds? I swear, it's like people don't understand why we measure R_t. propagation is sigmoidal phenomenon. A reduction in transmission by 10% can easily lead to a reduction in prevalence by nearly 100%.
bosswipe 6y ago
I would guess that the social measures to combat covid have also had a big effect on the circulation of cold and flu viruses.
JabavuAdams 6y ago
Are you sure you just aren't getting colds because of better hygiene, and less contact with others? Without controlling for social distancing, you can't reasonably conclude that it was the vitamin D. I haven't had a cold since we initially locked-down in April, which is very unusual for me, but completely explained by social distancing.
- ColanR 6y ago
  > you can't reasonably conclude that it was the vitamin D. Except you can, because that is the conclusion of at least one other study of the effect of Vitamin D. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16959053/ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16959053/
- arkitaip 6y ago
  Oh I absolutely believe that social distancing and better hygiene are the reasons why I've gotten so few colds this year but those actions can't fully explain the decrease in severity. My colds have gone from being absolutely miserable to barely noticeable and are over in a week or less. I could be totally wrong but I'm not willing to remove vitamin d/k/c from my diet just to validate the hypothesis.
cactus2093 6y ago
Just some random suggestions from someone on the internet, but colds don't usually cause fevers, so if you've been getting sick with a fever every 2-3 months you may want to get that checked out. It's also surprising that you've gotten 2 colds in the past few months when it sounds like you have been taking precautions due to covid-19. Seems like any exposure where you could catch a cold could easily have been Covid-19 instead, so you may want to re-evaluate your mask use, physical distancing, and hygiene practices.

outworlder 6y ago

Vitamin C is fine. Careful with Vitamin D. When you get a chance, go see your doctor and ask him to check your vitamin D levels. Don't forget to tell them you are taking suplements.

ouid 6y ago

Don't really know why you haven't found the most obvious explanation for why you've gotten fewer colds.

arkitaip 6y ago
Obviously thought about that but the intensity of the colds is way different.
ReflectedImage 6y ago
Vitamin D has a direct effect on colds. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5949172/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5949172/
- ColanR 6y ago
  Another study to back you up: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16959053/ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16959053/
- ouid 6y ago
  Ok, but you know what has a really really direct effect on colds? I swear, it's like people don't understand why we measure R_t. propagation is sigmoidal phenomenon. A reduction in transmission by 10% can easily lead to a reduction in prevalence by nearly 100%.

bosswipe 6y ago

I would guess that the social measures to combat covid have also had a big effect on the circulation of cold and flu viruses.

JabavuAdams 6y ago

Are you sure you just aren't getting colds because of better hygiene, and less contact with others? Without controlling for social distancing, you can't reasonably conclude that it was the vitamin D. I haven't had a cold since we initially locked-down in April, which is very unusual for me, but completely explained by social distancing.

ColanR 6y ago
> you can't reasonably conclude that it was the vitamin D. Except you can, because that is the conclusion of at least one other study of the effect of Vitamin D. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16959053/ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16959053/
arkitaip 6y ago
Oh I absolutely believe that social distancing and better hygiene are the reasons why I've gotten so few colds this year but those actions can't fully explain the decrease in severity. My colds have gone from being absolutely miserable to barely noticeable and are over in a week or less. I could be totally wrong but I'm not willing to remove vitamin d/k/c from my diet just to validate the hypothesis.

cactus2093 6y ago

Just some random suggestions from someone on the internet, but colds don't usually cause fevers, so if you've been getting sick with a fever every 2-3 months you may want to get that checked out. It's also surprising that you've gotten 2 colds in the past few months when it sounds like you have been taking precautions due to covid-19. Seems like any exposure where you could catch a cold could easily have been Covid-19 instead, so you may want to re-evaluate your mask use, physical distancing, and hygiene practices.