Treatment of an Intramammary Bacterial Infection with 25-Hydroxyvitamin D3
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John D. Lippolis john.lippolis@ars.usda.gov, Timothy A. Reinhardt, Randy A. Sacco, Brian J. Nonnecke, Corwin D. Nelson
Deficiency of serum levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 has been correlated with increased risk of infectious diseases such as tuberculosis and influenza. A plausible reason for this association is that expression of genes encoding important antimicrobial proteins depends on concentrations of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 produced by activated immune cells at sites of infection, and that synthesis of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 is dependent on the availability of 25-hydroxyvitamin D3. Thus, increasing the availability of 25(OH)D3 for immune cell synthesis of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 at sites of infection has been hypothesized to aid in clearance of the infection. This report details the treatment of an acute intramammary infection with infusion of 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 to the site of infection.
Ten lactating cows were infected with in one quarter of their mammary glands.
Half of the animals were treated intramammary with 25-hydroxyvitamin D3.
The 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 treated animal showed significantly lower bacterial counts in milk and showed reduced symptomatic affects of the mastitis.
It is significant that treatment with 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 reduced the severity of an acute bacterial infection.
This finding suggested a significant non-antibiotic complimentary role for 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 in the treatment of infections in compartments naturally low in 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 such as the mammary gland and by extension, possibly upper respiratory tract infections.
Notes
- Daily feed of all of the cows contained 30,000 - 40,000 IU vitamin D
Since a cow weighs about 800 libs, the equivalent intake of vitamin D for a human would be about 8,000 IU
Has been known for a long time that vets give far more vitamin D to animals than doctors give to people - vets are paid to keep their patients healthy - 40,000 IU vitamin D twice a day injected in infected mammary glands of half of the cows
Interesting - injected at the site of the infection, not just in the blood, or consumed. - Would like to compare the use of vitamin D to the use of antibiotics in cows
See also VitaminDWiki
- Vitamin D and Immune Function – Review July 2013
- Vitamin D protects against many types of health problems – review May 2013
- Vitamin D prevents infections – Nov 2012
- Antibiotic use cut in half by elderly (over 70) after monthly 60,000 IU of vitamin D – RCT Dec 2013
- Overview Veterinary and vitamin D
- Cows are routinely given 30 IU per kilogram (which would be 10,000 IU for a 150 lb person)
- No tuberculosis if more than 80 ng of vitamin D (cattle) - Jan 2022