Study Show No Connection Between Vitamin D Levels and Upper Respiratory Tract Infections Such As The Common Cold

Vitamin D is a vitamin that can be synthesized (created) by the body through exposure to sunlight. It helps regulate the calcium and phosphate levels in the body. It also helps keeps bones and teeth healthy.

Despite it being available through sunlight, studies has shown that people still suffer from vitamin D deficiency. Lack of vitamin D can lead to diseases such as rickets, osteomalacia, and bone deformities.

Vitamin D deficiency is said to occur because of the promoted use of sunscreen which blocks the levels of sunlight needed by the body to create the vitamin. Changing lifestyles where people tend to stay indoors more is also a factor.

Some countries such as Australia have already encouraged people to get the right amount of sunshine. According to Dr. Michael Holick, who is a well known specialist on vitamin D, suggests a daily 5 to 15 minute exposure to sunlight between 9am to 3pm is optimal. Care must be taken since overexposure to sunlight is also dangerous to the body.

According to Dr. Holick, treatments for diseases such as psoriasis, Parkinson's and cancer can benefit from having vitamin D at optimum levels. Also, because of the amount of sunlight that is reduced during winter which results in lowered production of vitamin D in the body, it was believed that vitamin D may be a factor in upper respiratory tract infections like the common cold.

Aside from sunlight, Vitamin D is also present in some foods such as oily fish (salmon), eggs, breakfast cereals, and milk.

The featured video below is highly recommended to understand more about vitamin D and its importance to the body.

Vitamin D supplementation does not reduce rate or severity of colds

Although some data have suggested a possible inverse association between serum vitamin D levels and the incidence of upper respiratory tract infections (colds), participants in a randomized controlled trial who received a monthly dose of 100,000 IUs of vitamin D3 did not have a significantly reduced incidence or severity of colds, according to a study in the October 3 issue of JAMA.

The association of vitamin D insufficiency and susceptibility to viral respiratory tract infections has been unclear, according to background information in the article.

Study On Benefits and Adverse Effect Of Oral Zinc Treatment For Common Cold

Illustration by Bloomberg View

Zinc is a chemical metallic element with the atomic number 30 and the symbol Zn. Zinc is an essential trace element needed by the human body. This element is second only to iron in its concentration in the body.

A trace element is a dietary mineral necessary for the proper growth, development, and physiology of the organism.

The required daily value of zinc for the human body is 15 mg for adults and children age 4 and older. High-protein foods contain high amounts of zinc such as beef, pork, and lamb. The dark meat of a chicken has more zinc than the light meat. Other good sources of zinc are nuts, whole grains, legumes, and yeast.

Other reasons people take zinc is to boost the immune system to treat the common cold and ear infections, prevent lower respiratory infections, and for malaria and other parasitic diseases. It is also used for macular degeneration, night blindness, and cataracts.

Oral zinc may lessen common cold symptoms but adverse effects are common

Oral zinc treatments may shorten the duration of symptoms of the common cold in adults, although adverse effects are common, according to a study published in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal).