Can vitamin D prevent acute respiratory infections?
A systematic review and meta-analysis says Yes, but the dosages used may not be what you’d expect.
PRACTICE CHANGER
Reduce acute respiratory tract infections in those with significant vitamin D deficiency (circulating 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels < 10 ng/mL) with daily or weekly vitamin D supplementation—not bolus vitamin D treatment.1
STRENGTH OF RECOMMENDATION
A: Based on a systematic review and meta-analysis of 25 trials.
Martineau AR, Jolliffe DA, Hooper RL, et al. Vitamin D supplementation to prevent acute respiratory tract infections: systematic review and meta-analysis of individual participant data. BMJ. 2017;356:i6583.
In addition, the authors of the study suggest that one of the ways to provide this level of vitamin D is through food fortification, but food fortification is often complicated by emotional and/or political issues that could thwart implementation.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The PURLs Surveillance System was supported in part by Grant Number UL1RR024999 from the National Center For Research Resources, a Clinical Translational Science Award to the University of Chicago. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Center For Research Resources or the National Institutes of Health.
