Vitamin D May Reduce Incidence and Severity of Respiratory Tract Infections in Children

This study investigated the effects of vitamin D supplementation on acute respiratory tract infections in 6 to 8-year-old children. Carried out during an extended winter in Copenhagen, Denmark, where natural vitamin D synthesis through sunlight is minimal, the study was a secondary analysis of a larger 24-week trial examining the impact of vitamin D and dairy protein intake on child health and growth. A total of 200 healthy children were randomized to receive either daily vitamin D3 supplements or a placebo. Illness data were collected through parent questionnaires.

Of the initial participants, 189 children completed the study and all illness questionnaires. Over the course of the study, levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D increased slightly in the vitamin D group and dropped substantially in the placebo group. Compared to the placebo group, the children who received vitamin D supplements had 17 percent fewer sick days due to acute respiratory tract infections and 43 percent fewer days with such infections accompanied by fever. These differences were statistically significant, indicating a protective effect of vitamin D during the winter months.

The findings demonstrate that vitamin D supplementation can reduce the duration and severity of acute respiratory tract infections in young children during periods of low sun exposure. The researchers therefore recommend vitamin D supplementation during extended winter for children living at northern latitudes, where natural vitamin D production is limited.

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