On Monday  I wrote about vitamin D and depression.  Today, as I sit at my desk, I can see that Autumn is here and winter will follow.  Colds are not an inevitable part of the season and I wanted to write a bit about how vitamin D might be important in boosting our immune systems in order to prevent colds.  A study (1) looked at the association of vitamin D levels in the body and prevalence of colds/flu. Previous studies have found that vitamin D is very important for the immune system. The authors of this study wanted to look at the link between blood serum vitamin D levels and the risk of colds/flu. The researchers looked at data from 18883 individuals aged 12 and above.   Lowered vitamin D levels (1) were significantly associated with recurrent bouts of colds and flu. Participants with the lowest vitamin D levels were about 40% more likely to report having a cold/flu than those with the highest vitamin D levels. In addition to this the, association seemed to be stronger in individuals suffering from asthma (or other respiratory tract problems such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease). Asthma patients with the lowest vitamin D levels were five times more likely to have had a recent respiratory infection. This study only showed an association and the authors called for further randomised studies in order to solidify the evidence, but the findings certainly support a role for vitamin D in the prevention of common respiratory infections….

It is beginning to get colder and Autumn and Winter appear to be on the horizon again.  Colds and flu season will start soon, there is much that can be done with nutrition in order to help reduce the severity of symptoms of the common cold.  Previously I have written about zinc and vitamin C in relation to the prevention and shortening of the common cold and I would recommend you visit this post for more information.   Colds are caused by viruses and our susceptibility to these infections is largely dictated by the efficiency of our immune system. A healthy diet providing our bodies with optimal nutrition may help to keep our immune systems strong and protect us from infection. The symptoms of a common cold, such as a tickly throat, headache and runny nose, tend to last from a few days to a couple of weeks. There is mixed evidence with regards prevention and treatment of colds with complementary health methods but a new review study (1) of 15 trials has found that taking zinc supplements in syrup, lozenge or tablet form within a day of symptoms starting can reduce their severity and shorten the length of illness. Zinc is essential for the efficient functioning of the immune system. Every cell in our body needs zinc. This mineral has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects in the body which may account for these effects.   The authors of the review study (1) write in their introduction that “the common cold….