It seems that taking vitamin D supplements doesn’t prevent colds or any other form of upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs), according to a new study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. The researchers found that the incidence of colds among people taking Vitamin D supplements was very similar to those who were just taking placebo pills.
The study is based on a randomized, placebo-controlled trial among 322 healthy adults living in New Zealand, during a period of 18 months. Half of the participants were given the Vitamin D supplements, while the other half received the placebo. The number of URTI episodes was slightly bigger among the placebo group, but not significantly (593 cases against 611), with very similar rates in the other measures (URTI episodes per person, number of days of missed work, duration of symptoms or severity).
The conclusion is cautious, but relevant: ‘In this trial, monthly administration of 100 000 IU of vitamin D did not reduce the incidence or severity of URTIs in healthy adults.’
Source: Los Angeles Times
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
David R. Murdoch, Sandy Slow, Stephen T. Chambers, Lance C. Jennings, Alistair W. Stewart, Patricia C. Priest, Christopher M. Florkowski, John H. Livesey, Carlos A. Camargo, & Robert Scragg (2012). Effect of Vitamin D3 Supplementation on Upper Respiratory Tract Infections in Healthy Adults: The VIDARIS Randomized Controlled Trial The Journal of the American Medical Association DOI: 10.1001/jama.2012.12505
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