Past experience with the flu has shown that it is primarily a fall and winter virus, as flu cases tend to subside during the warm summer months. One theory to explain this surrounds vitamin D, which has been shown to boost the immune system and enhance the body’s defenses against viruses—especially those that affect the respiratory system.
The idea is that the prevalence of the flu during the colder months of the year is directly related to the fact that vitamin D levels are often low during the fall and winter, because people are exposed to less UV light.
Other theories regarding the seasonality of the flu are:
- The cold, dry atmosphere of winter makes it easier for the virus to be transmitted.
- People spend more time indoors in the winter, and thus have more person-to-person contact.
Source:
Milwaukee Wisconsin Journal Sentinal (JS Online): Researchers See Link Between Vitamin D, Flu Immunity
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