Breathing by ever-smokers improved by monthly Vitamin D – RCT 2017

Created December 2017

Effect of Monthly, High-Dose, Long-Term Vitamin D on Lung Function: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Nutrients. 2017 Dec 13;9(12). pii: E1353. doi: 10.3390/nu9121353.

Sluyter JD1, Camargo CA2, Waayer D3, Lawes CMM4, Toop L5, Khaw KT6, Scragg R7.

Yet again, Vitamin D should reduce some of the costs of smoking In this study the vitamin D pills were mailed out monthly Hospitals could send out a monthly envelope containing 2 vitamin D pills (40 cents) Such a low-cost monthly envelope would greatly improve the ever-smoker's health Far less cost than 20 CT scans now paid for by Medicare* Smoking reduces vitamin D - many studies* Smoking associated with 9 ng less vitamin D age 40-50 – Nov 2014* Inhaled vitamin D help lungs - many studies* A smoker costs a company 5816 dollars every year – Aug 2013* Suspect that a nice fraction of that cost would be saved by monthly vitamin D---* Review by Vitamin D Council---| | || --- | --- || Ever-smoker type | Increased air || OK Vitamin D level | 57 ml || Deficient Vitamin D Level | 122 ml || With Asthma/COPD | 160 ml |

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Although observational studies suggest positive vitamin D-lung function associations, randomized trials are inconsistent. We examined effects of vitamin D supplementation on lung function. We recruited 442 adults (50-84 years, 58% male) into a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial. Participants received, for 1.1 years (median; range = 0.9-1.5 years), either (1) vitamin D₃ 200,000 IU, followed by monthly 100,000 IU doses (n = 226); or (2) placebo monthly (n = 216). At baseline and follow-up, spirometry yielded forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1; primary outcome). Mean (standard deviation) 25-hydroxyvitamin D increased from 61 (24) nmol/L at baseline to 119 (45) nmol/L at follow-up in the vitamin D group, but was unchanged in the placebo group.

There were no significant lung function improvements (vitamin D versus placebo) in the total sample, vitamin D-deficient participants or asthma/chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) participants.

However, among ever-smokers (n = 217), the mean (95% confidence interval) FEV1 increase in the vitamin D versus placebo was 57 (4, 109) mL (p = 0.03). FEV1 increases were larger among vitamin D-deficient ever-smokers (n = 54): 122 (8, 236) mL (p = 0.04).

FEV1 improvements were largest among ever-smokers with asthma/COPD (n = 60): 160 (53, 268) mL (p = 0.004).

Thus, vitamin D supplementation did not improve lung function among everyone, but benefited ever-smokers, especially those with vitamin D deficiency or asthma/COPD.

PMID: 29236049 DOI: 10.3390/nu9121353

Tags: Intervention Intervention - non daily