Tuberculosis Vitamin D Cod Liver Oil
January 02, 2012 http://www.naturalnews.com/034542_vitamin_D_cod_liver_oil_tuberculosis.html
(NaturalNews) Sometimes the old fashioned ways of treating disease are still
the safest and most effective. A recent review of an 1848 study conducted at the
former Hospital for Consumption in Chelsea, UK, now known as the Royal Brompton
Hospital (RBH), has found that cod liver oil, which is rich in vitamin D, is
still an effective treatment for tuberculosis.
Professor Sir Malcolm Green, who used to work at RBH but has since retired,
unearthed the old study which involved over 1,000 patients with tuberculosis, a
contagious bacterial infection that can lead to death. One group composed of 542
patients was given standard treatment along with cod liver oil, while another
group of 535 patients was given only the standard treatment.
At the conclusion of the study, doctors saw stabilization of the disease in 18
percent of the patients given cod liver oil, while only six percent of those in
the control group saw improvement. Thirty-three percent of patients in the
control group also ended up dying, compared to only 19 percent of those in the
cod liver oil group.
"It could well be that the widespread use of cod liver oil encouraged by doctors
played a significant part," in mitigating tuberculosis, said Prof. Green. The
steady decline of the disease in the late 19th and early 20th centuries is
commonly attributed to improved sanitation and living conditions, but Prof.
Green says improved nutrition was also crucial.
"A role for vitamin D in combating tuberculosis gives a rational basis for
sunshine therapy, which was widely practiced for patients in sanatoriums before
chemotherapy became available, as vitamin D is synthesized in the skin when
exposed to the sun," added Prof. Green. "Patients were put out on their beds to
lie in the sun in summer and winter, and many were sent to Switzerland and other
sunny countries for treatment."
A study published in the journal Science Translational Medicine back in
October also confirms that, in order for the immune system to develop the
capacity to fight tuberculosis infection, it must have optimal levels of vitamin
D. Many patients with tuberculosis who are tested often turn up vitamin D
deficient, which suggests that supplementing with vitamin D or getting more
sunlight exposure can greatly improve healing capacity (http://www.vitamindcouncil.org/vita...).
Sources for this article include:
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_relea...