Originally published January 25 2006
Large study finds link between vitamin D and lung health
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
Dr. Peter Black led a team of researchers at the University of Auckland in a lung study that determined higher levels of vitamin D in the blood are related to improved lung function.
Patients with higher vitamin D levels in their blood had significantly better lung function, a University of Auckland team found in a study of 14,091 people.
"Low levels of vitamin D have been associated with osteoporosis, hypertension, diabetes, and cancer," said lead researcher Dr Peter Black.
Dr Black said the difference in performance between those with the highest and lowest concentrations of vitamin D was more marked that the difference between non-smokers and those who had given up.
The team found that those people with the highest concentration of vitamin D in their blood significantly outperformed others in tests to measure their lung function.
However, he said: "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."
* The FEV1 test which measures the volume of air that can be forced in one second after taking a deep breath.
Dr Peter Black said he was not sure why vitamin D has this effect on lung function.
But he suggested it may be because vitamin D affects the repair and remodelling of lung tissue, which goes on throughout life.
"The effects of vitamin D are not limited to bone and there is evidence that it can affect the growth of a wide variety of cell types."
Dr Mark Britton, a spokesman for the British Lung Foundation, told the BBC News website that it was likely that vitamin D had an impact on the development of the rib cage, rather than the lung tissue itself.
Dr Michael Alberts, president of the American College of Chest Physicians, said: "Chronic lung conditions compromise quality of life for millions of people around the world.
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