2. Vitamin D deficiency and respiratory illnesses
Some research has shown that vitamin D supplements may help in managing or preventing COVID-19. While studies are still in their early phases, past research does show that respiratory infections are among the illnesses linked to vitamin D deficiency.
One study analyzed data from 25 clinical trials that looked at the impact of the nutrient on respiratory infections, including sinusitis, bronchitis, and pneumonia.
Of the 11,300 participants, experts found that people who took vitamin D were 12% less likely to develop respiratory conditions compared with people who didn’t take the vitamin. However, researchers pointed out that there were limitations. For instance, they didn’t have information on who had received a flu shot, which may have impacted their risk for respiratory illness.
One thing’s for sure, experts noted: vitamin D plays a role in our body’s ability to fight off infection, and a deficiency of this nutrient increases our susceptibility to infection. This being said, respiratory infections may be among the illnesses linked to vitamin D deficiency, but we don’t have specific research results that allow experts to make a definitive conclusion.
