VITAMIN D SUPPLEMENTATION DECREASES LUNG DISEASE FLARE-UPS

A new trial has found that when vitamin D deficient patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are supplemented with the vitamin, rates of respiratory flare-ups decrease by 40%.  

Chronic bronchitis and emphysema are two types of COPD. These conditions are characterized by coughing, excess mucus, shortness of breath, wheezing, fatigue, and tightness in chest but when a flare-up strikes these symptoms become so severe that individuals often require hospitalization.

This randomized controlled trial included 240 patients with COPD. For one year, half of the patients received 120,000 IU of vitamin D every 2 months (equivalent to taking 2000 IU daily) while the other half received a placebo. The risk, severity and duration of flare-ups was then compared between the two groups.  The supplemented group experienced a 40% reduction in flare-ups.  

How vitamin D reduced COPD flare-ups is not entirely understood.  Because adequate levels of vitamin D appear to be important in immune function, researchers had speculated that supplementation would decrease rates of upper respiratory tract infections, but, instead, they found that the supplemented patients and controls did not differ in their rate of respiratory infections.  Instead, it appears that the anti-inflammatory properties of vitamin D are what mediates the reduction in COPD flare-ups.  Interestingly, while it is not believed that vitamin D supplementation can prevent COPD, patients with chronic lung diseases such as asthma, cystic fibrosis, COPD, and interstitial pneumonia appear to be at increased risk for vitamin D deficiency.

What to do:  Increasingly, it is being recognized that vitamin D plays an important role not only in bone health but also immune, endocrine, and pulmonary function.  Blood tests can reliably check vitamin D levels.  If deficient, patients are often prescribed a prescription dose.  Vitamin D is naturally produced when the skin is exposed to the sun but having darker skin, excess weight, and/or older age decreases the body’s ability to produce vitamin D.  Salmon, sardines (and other fish in which the bones are eaten), and cod liver oil are some of the few foods that contain significant amounts of vitamin D.  Milk and many other products are now fortified.  When taking a supplement choose the Vitamin D₃ form.  Discuss with your provider what level of supplementation is appropriate.

Adapted from articles available at:

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/12/141202082539.htm

https://www.vitamindcouncil.org/health-conditions/chronic-obstructive-pulmonary-disease/#

Sources:

Martineau AR, James WY, Hooper RL et al.. Vitamin D3 supplementation in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (ViDiCO): a multicentre, double-blind, randomised controlled trial. The Lancet Respiratory Medicine, 2014; DOI: 10.1016/S2213-2600(14)70255-3

Gilbert CR, Arum SM, Smith CM. Vitamin D deficiency and chronic lung disease. Canadian Respiratory Journal : Journal of the Canadian Thoracic Society 2009;16(3):75-80.  http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2706673/