Adding vitamin D supplements to standard asthma treatments may significantly lower the risk of severe attacks. Researchers pooled results from seven randomized, controlled trials. They found that taking D supplements led to a 30 percent reduction in asthma attacks requiring steroid or injection-related treatments, and a 50 percent reduction in asthma attacks that required hospitalization.
Vitamin D may protect against such attacks by reducing airway inflammation and boosting immune responses to viruses. “These results add to the ever-growing body of evidence that vitamin D can support immune function as well as bone health,” said lead researcher Adrian Martineau, PhD. He added that the vitamin is safe to take and inexpensive.