'Add vitamin D to food to prevent colds and flu', say researchers

Conclusion This was a systematic review and meta-analysis investigating the use of vitamin D supplementation as a way of preventing acute respiratory tract infections such as flu, bronchitis and pneumonia. The study found vitamin D supplementation to be useful in the prevention of acute respiratory tract infection. People who are very deficient in vitamin D and those receiving daily or weekly supplementation without additional large one-off doses had a larger benefit. This study has both strengths and limitations. It is very well designed and includes high-quality evidence. The researchers made efforts to reduce the risk of bias and investigate possible areas where bias may exist in their study. They provided the following limitations: Analysis suggests the results may have been subject to some degree of publication bias, so some small trials showing adverse effects of vitamin D may not have been included. The study was not adequately powered to detect effects of vitamin D supplementation in some subgroups, such as people with COPD. Data relating to adherence to supplementation was not available for all participants. PHE guidelines published in the summer of 2016 recommend adults and children over the age of one should consider taking a daily supplement containing 10 micrograms (mcg) of vitamin D, particularly during autumn and winter. People who have a higher risk of vitamin D deficiency are being advised to take a supplement all year round. But PHE currently...
Source: NHS News Feed - Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Food/diet Medication Heart/lungs Source Type: news