February 22, 2017

Vitamin D supplementation and respiratory infections

The effect of vitamin D supplementation on health continues to be a subject of controversy, despite recent recommendations from SACN and PHE that everyone over the age of one should consume 10 micrograms of vitamin D daily to ensure good health.

A new study, consisting of data from 25 clinical trials and nearly 11,000 participants, has reviewed the evidence of whether vitamin D supplementation reduces the risks of respiratory infections such as colds and flu. The review, to be published in The BMJ, untangles some of the complexities around the health benefits of vitamin D supplements on these illnesses, and could have implications for public health policy.

Speakers:

Prof. Adrian Martineau, Clinical Professor of Respiratory Infection and Immunity, Queen Mary University of London

Dr Richard Hooper, Reader in Medical Statistics, Queen Mary University of London