[exDemMom]

Vitamin D3 5,000IU prevents the flu.

And how does it do that?

The sialic acid receptors that the influenza virus uses to get inside the cells and wreak havoc are exactly the same, regardless of whether or how much vitamin D you take. The only method known to prevent influenza virus from entering cells is to have a good active immune response. And you only develop active immunity through exposure to a pathogen. There is no way taking vitamin D can substitute for induction of active immunity.

[vetvetdoug]

Only an anti-viral can ameliorate the effects of the Orthomyxo virus. Tamiflu inhibits the neuramidase enzyme and therefore blocks or reduces the virus from replicating and that makes the virus less virulent. Tamiflu only works on RNA viruses that use reverse transcriptase. Vaccination to the specific strain of the Orthomyxoviridae is the only prevention. What I've seen here is a myriad of witch's brews and quackery. Being healthy and having a good level of D3 or vitamin C may help but if confronted with an infective dose of virions of the flu they will be ineffective.

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

And how does it do that?

You're a Mom and don't know how?

Moms are like secondary doctors.

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

The sialic acid receptors that the influenza virus uses to get inside the cells and wreak havoc are exactly the same, regardless of whether or how much vitamin D you take.

Actually, you're wrong. I have a bachelor's degree in Health Information Technology and it does nothing of the sort. Vitamin D (D3, to be precise) has a component that shuts the Influenza A virus DOWN before it starts.

All the Tamiflu and even Vitamin C is no match for the flu. But Vitamin D is. It stops the flu before it starts.