Study says that Vitamin D supplements may protect acute respiratory infections
Posted on: 19/Feb/2017 6:57:56 PM
A new study has said that Vitamin D supplements may protect against acute respiratory infections including colds and flu. Scientists from the Queen Mary University of London (QMUL) analysed data from 14 countries including India and Afghanistan. The results are based on a new analysis of raw data from around 11,000 participants in 25 clinical trials conducted in 14 countries including the UK, US, Japan, India, Afghanistan, Belgium, Italy, Australia and Canada.
Speaking about this, the researchers said, Our analysis of pooled raw data from each of the 10,933 trial participants allowed us to address the thorny question of why vitamin D worked in some trials, but not in others. 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. Vitamin D fortification of foods provides a steady, low-level intake of vitamin D that has virtually eliminated profound vitamin D deficiency in several countries. By demonstrating this new benefit of vitamin D, our study strengthens the case for introducing food fortification to improve vitamin D levels in countries such as the UK where profound vitamin D deficiency is common.
