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Comment by jackfoxy | Hacker News Reader

Just from my own experience, I started taking vitamin D supplements during the winter months (roughly from equinox to equinox) 3 winters ago, and it seems like my immune system has vastly improved. The number of colds and flus I was subject to fell from about 3 per season to 1 the first season and zero the next two (knock on wood).

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This is just my experience, but I noticed that I used to have flu every 3-4 month between the age of 18 to 22 and then it suddenly stopped. I didn't take any supplements for this to happen, just graduated from college. I am not sure if it was the hormonal changes or change of environment or just plain growing up, but I'd think twice before attributing it to supplements.

Correct, this is only anecdotal "evidence". It's hard enough even for professionals to do controlled medical studies. However, my work environment has not changed at all, and my colleagues continue to get as sick as ever.

You probably developed immunity to the most common viruses after having exposure to them earlier on. The same thing happened with me after growing up in the Midwest winters.

I used to get symptoms associated with Seasonal Affective Disorder every winter. Now for two winters straight the Vitamin D supplements have minimized those symptoms.

During my second winter in Portland, OR, I started to feel chronically tired and nearly unable to wake up each morning, no matter how much sleep I had had. Once I realized something was wrong, I started Vitamin D supplements and within a day or two, I felt like a brand new person. It was really dramatic. Since then, I take them every year during the colder months.

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