A study has revealed that taking Vitamin D supplements can significantly reduce the risk of severe asthma attacks in adult sufferers without any side effects.
The study was conducted by the Cochrane Review and involved several trials which tested the effects of vitamin D supplements on mild-moderate asthma in adults and children. It found that regular doses reduced the likelihood of an asthma sufferer needing emergency treatment or following a severe asthma attack. It has a risk decrease of 3-6%.
Professor Adrian Martineau, the lead author, said “We found that taking a vitamin D supplement in addition to standard asthma treatment significantly reduced the risk of severe asthma attacks, without causing side effects. This is an exciting result.”
“Some caution is warranted. First, the findings relating to severe asthma attacks come from just three trials: most of the patients enrolled in these studies were adults with mild or moderate asthma.
“Further vitamin D trials in children and in adults with severe asthma are needed to find out whether these patient groups will also benefit.
“Further analyses to investigate this question are ongoing, and results should be available in the next few months.”
