Taking vitamin D: 'halves risk' of severe asthma attack

A new study published in the Lancet Respiratory Medicine journal has found that people who took a daily vitamin D supplement are 50% less likely to suffer an asthma attack so severe that they had to be taken to A&E.

It's believed that the vitamin D supplements help prevent attacks by reducing inflammation and protecting the body against viruses. The results add to a growing body of evidence that shows vitamin D's beneficial effects on respiratory problems. 

Researchers also found a 30% reduction in the number of asthma attacks requiring treatment with steroids amongst those taking the daily vitamin D supplement. 

On average, 3 people die in the UK every day from asthma attacks yet it is believed that 2 of those are preventable. 

What is vitamin D?

Also known as the sunshine vitamin, vitamin D3 is an essential molecule which is produced by the body when skin is exposed to direct sunlight. It is very difficult to obtain enough from diet alone as it is only present in small amounts in oily fish. 

Vitamin D contributes to

• the maintenance of normal bones and teeth
• the normal function of the immune system 
• the maintenance of normal muscle function 
• the normal absorption and utilisation of calcium and phosphorus  
• normal cell division
  

Why do we need to supplement?

A 2016 Public Health England report recommended that everyone would benefit from a daily dose of Vitamin D.  It is estimated that approximately 60-90% of the UK population is deficient in vitamin D, mainly due to the weather. 

If you fall into the following categories your risk of deficiency is further increased:

• People with darker skin 
• People who spend a lot of time indoors during the day. Especially if you’re housebound, work long hours in an office or work nights 
• People who cover their skin with clothing or sunscreen all of the time 
• Older people have thinner skin than younger people and this may mean that they can’t produce as much vitamin D
• Pregnant women
• Very pale people who are at high risk of sunburn 

How to spot a quality vitamin D supplement

It important to supplement with vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) rather than D2. Vitamin D3 is the type of vitamin D your body produces in response to sun exposure, while vitamin D2 is not. Vitamin D2 can easily be obtained from the diet whereas it is almost impossible to meet your recommended daily intake of vitamin D3 through diet alone. 

Additionally, vitamin D3 is a fat-soluble molecule, which means it requires fat in order to be absorbed. Many vitamin D supplements are dry, and therefore you would need to take your supplement with a fatty food in order to absorb it properly. Consequently, it is recommended to look for a soft gel vitamin D supplement that is formulated with fat such as sunflower oil. 

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