Treat Chronic Hives With Vitamin D, Says University Study

by: Jonathan Benson

(NaturalNews) Researchers from the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) have found that vitamin D plays an important role in mitigating chronic hives. Jill Poole, M.D., and her colleagues observed that patients with chronic hives typically have very low vitamin D levels, and that supplementing with the vitamin may help to alleviate their condition and improve their overall health.

"Chronic hives can be quite frustrating for patients as treatment options are limited. They can make you feel miserable," explained Dr. Poole, an allergist, concerning the condition. "Vitamin D may be one part of the answer to this troublesome disease. Given the health benefits, there's no harm in taking vitamin D if you don't overdo it. It's easy, inexpensive and can be taken daily at 1,000 to 2,000 international units (IUs)."

Published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, the study revealed that nearly half of the chronic hives patients evaluated were deficient in vitamin D, which is a step lower than insufficient vitamin D levels. Consequently, Poole believes that chronic hives patients who either expose themselves to more sunlight to generate vitamin D, or take vitamin D supplements to up their levels, will experience improved health.

Vitamin D deficiency is linked to a host of diseases including diabetes, osteoporosis, heart disease, hypertension and cancer. The body produces vitamin D naturally from regular sunlight exposure but, especially during the winter, many people spend too little time in the sun to derive any significant benefit. And when they do venture out, they typically lather themselves in chemical-laden, UV-blocking sunscreens that prevent the vitamin D-producing sun rays from penetrating the skin.