It wouldn’t be surprising if pharmacies are seeing a surge in demand for vitamin D tablets. After all, a new study just came out suggesting the sunshine vitamin can reduce the risk of catching a cold or the flu.“Vitamin D ‘proved to cut risk of colds and flu,’” declared a headline in the Guardian. Medscape said, “Vitamin D may protect against respiratory infections,” while the BBC ran a headline that said: “Vitamin D pills ‘could stop colds or flu.’” Who wouldn’t be willing to pop a few vitamins in order to ward off the congestion, fatigue and fever that can accompany seasonal colds and influenza? But you may want to hold off before you run out to stock your medicine cabinet.The scientific community has been increasingly interested in the power of vitamin D over the last decade, as some research has found it may help reduce the risk of everything from multiple sclerosis to bone fractures. The problem is that most of the research is conflicting and inconsistent.
Despite the promising headlines, the new study linking vitamin D to a reduced risk of respiratory infections is no exception. The paper, published in the British Medical Journal on Wednesday, was a meta-analysis. That means researchers look at a number of different studies on vitamin D and respiratory infections – 25, in this case – and synthesize the results to determine what conclusions can be drawn from the large pool of evidence.In the new study, researchers concluded that supplements of vitamin D were linked to a 12-per-cent reduction in the risk of catching one acute respiratory infection. They conclude that 33 people would need to take supplements to prevent one respiratory infection. Among those who are severely vitamin-D-deficient, only four people would need supplements to prevent a cold.However, there are some major caveats to keep in mind.If it sounds too good to be true …An editorial published alongside the new study puts the results in perspective. Yes, the researchers found a risk reduction of 12 per cent.
But it was a relative risk reduction, which actually doesn’t tell us much. A relative risk reduction in this instance refers to the difference in the number of people who took vitamin D supplements and got a respiratory infection compared to those who didn’t take supplements and caught one.It’s much more useful to look at the absolute risk, or the actual numbers, to see how well the supplements performed. It turns out that 42.2 per cent of the non-vitamin-D study participants caught at least one acute respiratory tract infection compared to 40.3 per cent of the people who took supplements – a difference of 1.9 per cent.“It seems unlikely that the general population would consider a 2-per-cent absolute risk reduction sufficient justification to take supplements,” wrote the editorial authors, who have previously published research questioning the benefits of vitamin D for bone health.The editorial also points out that there was no single definition of what constitutes a respiratory-tract infection in the meta-analysis.
Some studies used lab-confirmed cases of the flu, others included self-reported or parent-reported colds – factors that make it difficult to interpret the study results or apply them to the general population, the authors wrote.The study authors wrote their own response to the editorial, pointing out their overall skepticism of the benefits of vitamin D in previously published studies. The authors defended their findings and pointed out that only 33 people need supplements in order to prevent one respiratory-tract infection.Dr. James McCormack, a professor in the faculty of pharmaceutical sciences at the University of British Columbia who focuses on the appropriate use of medication, said this study underscores some of the classic problems with attempting to draw sweeping conclusions from a study, particularly when there are impassioned “believers” on both sides of a debate.“It’s like a bunch of kids fighting in a sandbox,” he said.And the debate will continue because, as McCormack said, “We just don’t really have great information about this.”
While most of the research shows there is unlikely to be any great health perks from taking vitamin D, studies such as the one published in the BMJ may continue to find some small benefits. Often in such cases, the true scope of the benefits can be interpreted in different ways by different people.To the public watching these debates unfold, the result can be confusing. One week, vitamin D supplements can protect your health. The next, a study says supplements are useless.“You can make almost any study or add studies together to show anything you want,” McCormack said, adding the real test should be “whether it’s a consistent finding.”EXPOSED: Brits are being RIPPED OFF millions of pounds for ‘USELESS’ vitamins ITV’s Save Money: Good Health programme revealed why pricey vitamins are a waste of money – and how you can save a fortune on medicines for common winter ailments. In ITV’s new series, Save Money: Good Health, journalist Sian Williams and Doctor Ranj Singh reveal the best ways for Brits to stay healthy without spending hundreds on pricey medicines.
People in the UK spend £2.5 billion a year on over-the-counter health products, £350 million of which is spent on vitamin supplements.Sian Williams is a vitamin addict herself, spending £300 a year on supplements.She is convinced they work, while her dad isn’t so sure. Your diets are adequate and giving you all the vitamins and minerals you need “You don’t take all these?” he asks upon seeing her huge collection of supplements. “Don’t you think all this is a load of nonsense?”Sian decided to find out once and for all. She and a group of over 55s, which is the demographic that spends the most on vitamins in the country, agreed to lay off the vitamins for six weeks.Elaine Allerton, a dietician, tested the group’s blood before and after the supplement abstinence to check for vitamin levels.During the six weeks, many of the group were convinced they were feeling the effects. A-Z of vitamins and minerals Vitamins and minerals are essential nutrients that your body needs in order to work properly.
Take a look at our guide to see what each vitamin and mineral does. One of the participants, Marianne, spends almost £400 a year on vitamins. She said during the vitamin ban: “I’m much tireder and don’t have my usual get up and go.”However, when the results come in, the ladies are in for a shock.“You’re all still in the normal range,” says Elaine of their vitamin levels. “Your diets are adequate and giving you all the vitamins and minerals you need.”There was no difference when the participants’ bloods were taken before and after the experiment – and they saved a whopping £89.04 in the process. GETTYThe only exception, according to Elaine, is vitamin D. We get this from sunlight, and while it’s easy to obtain enough in spring and summer, Brits struggle in the autumn and winter months. She suggests taking a vitamin D supplement during this time to boost natural levels.The programme also revealed why buying brand name medicine to treat coughs and colds is a waste of money.