A new study has shown that taking vitamin D supplements, especially in small doses during fall and winter, will help prevent catching colds, influenza and other respiratory diseases.
The study titled, Vitamin D supplementation to prevent acute respiratory tract infections: Systematic review and meta-analysis of individual participant data, analyzed the data from 25 clinical trials in 14 countries and on 11,321 participants, aged 0 to 95 years.
“The bottom line is that the protective effects of vitamin D supplementation are strongest in those who have the lowest vitamin D levels, and when supplementation is given daily or weekly rather than in more widely-spaced doses,” lead researcher, Adrian Martineau, said in a statement.
Boosting immunity
The research team at Queen Mary University of London (QMUL) concluded that vitamin D protects the human body against respiratory infections, including bronchitis and pneumonia, by boosting levels of antibiotic-like peptides in the lungs.
This assumption fits with an observation that colds and flu are more common in fall and winter, when vitamin D levels are the lowest.
It may also explain why vitamin D seems to protect against asthma attacks, they said.
Louis Levy, head of Nutrition Science at Public Health England, however, said the study requires scientific confirmation.
“This study does not provide sufficient evidence to support recommending vitamin D for reducing the risk of respiratory tract infections,” he was quoted as saying by the London Science Media Center.
Meanwhile, the UK National Institute for Health Research said the findings were “worthy of serious further debate.”
Ultimately, the research team from QMUL wanted vitamin D to be added to food like milk.
Vitamin D is found in foods such as fish, egg yolks, meat and cereals, in addition to fruits and vegetables.
Usually it is heard that Vitamin C is helpful in cold and flu as it helps prevent it and even for its further causes but studies have now proved that Vitamin D is also a good supplement that is found helpful in preventing from cold and flu. Moreover, Vitamin –D is also termed as very helpful in reducing upper respiratory infections upto some level. So, Vitamin D is also proved as a very good supplement which is can help to prevent various health problems. This study is like a miracle as it has shown various benefits but because of the inconsistent reports there is still a doubt in the minds of many that is Vitamin D really helpful in preventing Cold and Flu infections? Because some of the clinical trials gives the positive result but the others result are not significant. And this creates confusion but still it is reported that Vitamin D is really helpful in preventing respiratory infection and even in treating the acute respiratory infections.
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