Daily vitamin D dose would prevent millions of colds – Telegraph.co.uk

Vitamin D is thought to protect against respiratory infections by boosting levels of antimicrobial peptides - natural antibiotic-like substances - in the lungs.

For many years, scientists have tried to establish a link between respiratory infections and vitamin D, prompted by observations that these illnesses are most common in winter, when levels of the vitamin are lowest due to poor sunlight.

The data from previous studies yielded contradictory results, but it is now clear that this was because many of the participants were being given their supplements in big monthly doses, a practice now understood to be ineffective.

Supplements are effective when given daily or weekly, rather than in more widely spaced doses, the BMJ study concluded.

While certain foods such as oily fish contain vitamin D, most of it is obtained through sunlight on the skin, and Government advice currently states that everyone should consider taking supplements during the autumn and winter months to protect musculoskeletal health.

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, said Prof Martineau.

Unlike countries such as Finland, the UK does not currently fortify food with vitamin D as a matter of course. Prof Martineau said that to do so would only cost a few pence per adult per year.

He added that the same preventative benefits could be derived from daily or weekly supplements.

A linked editorial in the BMJ claimed the new data only amounted to a hypothesis...requiring confirmation.

However, Dr Benjamin Jacobs, a consultant paediatrician at the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital, said: The case for universal vitamin D supplements, or food fortification, is now undeniable.

"Governments and health professionals need to take Martineaus study into account when setting vitamin D policy now.

More here:

Daily vitamin D dose would prevent millions of colds - Telegraph.co.uk