Vitamin D plays a role in lung health

Reported by Susan Aldridge, PhD, medical journalist

Patients with higher levels of vitamin D have better lung function.
Low levels of vitamin D have been linked with osteoporosis, hypertension, diabetes and cancer. Now researchers at the University of Auckland, New Zealand, reveal that vitamin D also has an impact on lung health.

The data comes from the United States National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. This covered over 14,000 people whose lung function was tested. Vitamin D levels were also measured. The group were divided into five groups according to vitamin D level. Those in the top group had significantly better lung function than those in the bottom group. Further research is now needed to see if boosting vitamin D intake – through diet or through supplementation – could help those suffering from chronic lung disease.

Source
Chest December 2005

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