Vitamin D improves lung function
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Higher levels of vitamin D linked to better lung function
Higher concentrations of Vitamin D in the body appears to improve lung function.
A study in the December issue of CHEST, the peer-reviewed journal of the American College of Chest Physicians (ACCP), showed that patients with higher levels of vitamin D had significantly better lung function, compared with patients with lower concentrations of vitamin D.
The research was done through the Department of Medicine, University of Auckland and led by Peter Black.
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Peter Black said, "Low levels of vitamin D have been associated with osteoporosis, hypertension, diabetes, and cancer. Our research shows that vitamin D may also have a strong influence on lung health, with greater levels of vitamin D associated with greater and more positive effects on lung function."
The researchers looked at the relationship between lung function and levels of vitamin D of a group patients aged over 20 years.
"The difference in lung function between the highest and lowest quintiles of vitamin D is substantial and greater than the difference between former and nonsmokers," said Dr. Black. "Although there is a definite relationship between lung function and vitamin D, it is unclear if increases in vitamin D through supplements or dietary intake will actually improve lung function in patients with chronic respiratory diseases."
"Vitamin D would be a relatively simple, low-cost intervention that would likely have high compliance to prevent or slow loss of lung function in susceptible subgroups. However, further studies examining the relationship between vitamin D and lung function are warranted to identify who may benefit from such an intervention," said author of the study's corresponding editorial Rosalind Wright, MD, MPH, Channing Laboratory, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA.
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"Chronic lung conditions compromise quality of life for millions of people in the United States and around the world," said W. Michael Alberts, MD, FCCP, President of the American College of Chest Physicians. "By understanding the effect that vitamins have on lung function, we may be able to identify new and more effective treatments for these debilitating diseases."
references
- American College of Chest Physicians, accessed 12 Dec 06
