Acute Respiratory Tract Infection and Vitamin D
Let’s explore vitamin D and it’s researched benefits.
It has been researched that Vitamin D has benefits from strong bones and improving immunity. Specifically the research showed that if you were deficient in Vitamin D (less than 30nmol/L in a blood test) you were more susceptible to acute respiratory track infections (ARTIs). Taking Vitamin D everyday or weekly also reduced the risk of ARTI’s more than taking occasional High doses of Vitamin D.
Here is how the data breaks down from a group of studies totalling 10,933 participants. Vitamin D vs. Placebo.
-Overall Protective benefits from day/week/month supplementation of vitamin D was 12% less chest infections both bacterial and viral.
-Better benefits from Day/Week supplementation with 19% protective effect over all the studies.
-Benefits increased to 70% protective effect against virus and bacterial respiratory chest infections for those patients who were deficient.
Living in Canada, we are covered up and typically do not get enough Vitamin D during the winter months.
40% of Canadians were below the cut-off of 50nmol/L during the winter months and 10% were deficient (below 30nmol/L)
Vitamin D supplementation is safe at 1000IU (25mg) / day.
Please consult you doctor if you wonder if you are deficient in Vitamin D.
References:
https://www.bmj.com/content/356/bmj.i6583
https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/82-624-x/2013001/article/11727-eng.htm