Taking vitamin D supplements does not reduce the number or severity of cold in asthma patients, suggests new research.
The findings surprised the researchers who had previously published research showing a 40 percent reduction in asthma exacerbations in patients with a vitamin D deficiency who achieved normal levels of the vitamin with supplements.
Because colds often trigger exacerbations, they hypothesised that vitamin D supplementation would reduce colds and cold severity
In fact, the new study found that some participants receiving supplemental vitamin D, rather than a placebo, experienced more colds.
"We cannot recommend vitamin D for the prevention of colds. Although there are many reasons to recommend vitamin D supplements for asthma patients as they are at greater risk for bone weakening , said one of the researchers Loren Denlinger from University of Wisconsin in the US.
The study enrolled 408 adults with mild-to-moderate asthma whose vitamin D levels were insufficient or deficient.
The patients were randomised to receive either vitamin D supplementation once or placebo for 28 weeks.
The researchers found, achieving sufficiency of vitamin D made no difference in number of colds or their severity this group experienced.
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