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
- Smoking associated with 9 ng less vitamin D age 40-50 – Nov 2014
- The lungs can activate vitamin D locally – a Vitamin D inhaler may help lungs – Aug 2016
- 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
| Ever-smoker type | Increased air |
| OK Vitamin D level | 57 ml |
| Deficient Vitamin D Level | 122 ml |
| With Asthma/COPD | 160 ml |
Download the PDF from Vitamin D Life
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