Vitamin D supplements could spare more than three million people from colds or flu in the UK each year, researchers claim.<\/p>\n
The sunshine vitamin is vital for healthy bones, but also has a role in the immune system.<\/p>\n
The analysis, published in the British Medical Journal, argues food should be fortified with the vitamin.<\/p>\n
But Public Health England (PHE) says the infections data is not conclusive, although it does recommend supplements.<\/p>\n
These, it says, should be taken for improved bone and muscle health.<\/p>\n
The immune system uses vitamin D to make antimicrobial weapons that puncture holes in bacteria and viruses.<\/p>\n
But as vitamin D is made in the skin while out in the sun, many people have low levels during winter.<\/p>\n
Trials on using supplements to prevent infections have given mixed results, so the researchers pooled data on 11,321 people from 25 separate trials to try to get a definitive answer.<\/p>\n
The team at Queen Mary University of London (QMUL) looked at respiratory tract infections – which covers a wide range of illnesses from a sniffle to flu to pneumonia.<\/p>\n
Overall, the study said one person would be spared infection for every 33 taking vitamin D supplements.<\/p>\n
That is more effective than flu vaccination, which needs to treat 40 to prevent one case, although flu is far more serious than the common cold.<\/p>\n
There were greater benefits for those taking pills daily or weekly – rather than in monthly super-doses – and in people who were deficient in the first place.<\/p>\n
One of the researchers, Prof Adrian Martineau, said: “Assuming a UK population of 65 million, and that 70% have at least one acute respiratory infection each year, then daily or weekly vitamin D supplements will mean 3.25 million fewer people would get at least one acute respiratory infection a year.”<\/p>\n
PHE already advises everyone to take vitamin D supplements in autumn and winter for the sake of healthy bones and muscles.<\/p>\n
They are recommended all year round for some people who get little sunlight on their skin, including people in care homes or those who cover up.<\/p>\n
However, there is considerable debate about the importance of the latest study.<\/p>\n
Prof Louis Levy, the head of nutrition science at PHE, said: “The evidence on vitamin D and infection is inconsistent and this study does not provide sufficient evidence to support recommending vitamin D for reducing the risk of respiratory tract infections.”<\/p>\n
But Prof Martin Hewison, from the University of Birmingham and the Society for Endocrinology, said the findings were “striking”.<\/p>\n
“I agree with the authors that this study supports a new indication for vitamin D beyond its established benefits for bone health,” he added.<\/p>\n
And the research wing of the NHS, the National Institute for Health Research which funded the study, said the findings were “worthy of serious further debate”.<\/p>\n
Ultimately, the researcher team at QMUL want vitamin D to be added to food like in the US where milk is fortified.<\/p>\n
Prof Martineau said: “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.<\/p>\n
“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.”<\/p>\n
–<\/p>\n
Source: BBC<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Vitamin D supplements could spare more than three million people from colds or flu in the UK each year, researchers claim. The sunshine vitamin is vital for healthy bones, but also has a role in the immune system. The analysis, published in the British Medical Journal, argues food should be fortified with the vitamin. But […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":14,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[19],"tags":[4121,4122,4123],"yoast_head":"\n