If you are a woman over the age of 40, you probably know that you should be taking Vitamin D. Unfortunately, many women don't get enough. But did you know that not getting enough Vitamin D might be affecting your asthma?
According to researchers from the University of Pennsylvania, vitamin D may slow the progressive decline in lung function resulting from airway remodeling over time. In airway remodeling certain types of smooth muscle grow more prominent, cause inflammation, and can cause damage to the lungs. The researchers believe that the remodeling can possibly be prevented or slowed down if adequate amounts of vitamin D are consumed.
The researchers found that vitamin D decreased growth of smooth muscle inflammation in the lungs of 12 volunteers more than other potent anti-inflammatories. While the studies are preliminary, they continue to study vitamin D as an asthma therapy. According to a press release, the authors are going to preform a randomized controlled trial to determine the effect of vitamin D supplementation on patients with severe asthma.
How much vitamin D do you take? Would you consider taking more if studies end up demonstrating that it might improve your asthma?
I take BreatheFree Multivitamin – it’s a multivitamin that has all the vitamins and minerals that people with asthma need.
I live in central Japan and currently my asthma is terrible. I am taking large quantities of steroids to try and get my symptoms under control. I live in a city with high industrial pollution, (Yokkaichi, famous for Yokkaichi zensoku, which translates to ‘Yokkaichi Asthma’) it’s spring time, and I’m recovering from a severe chest infection (on strong antibiotics too). A perfect storm for the type one brittle asthma that I have.
Fed up with the slow progress, I’ve started myself on a high intake vitamin D diet.
I eat rice with raw salmon or mackerel with Natto (fermented soy beans) for breakfast. I’ve started drinking particularly foul tasting soy milk. I’m hittin’ the tofu too.
I’m also trying to eat a lot of leafy green vegetables as salads with dressings made from extra virgin olive oil and balsamic vinegar.
Due to other allergies I’ve cut out alcohol, coffee, and almost all dairy. I eat a small amount of yoghurt each day to counter the negative effects that all these antibiotics and steroids have on my poor stomach. Lots of vegetables too, but less red meat than I ate before.
With the exception of the soy milk, everything else is delicious, though as someone who usually eats a massive variety of foods from all over the world, it feels very limiting.
I’ll let you know if I experience a major difference in my symptoms. I’m optimistic.
Regarding fish products high in vitamin D such as salmon, mackerel cod etc, they are also high in heavy metals like mercury. This isn’t good, and kids shouldn’t eat much if any of such fish. But I’ve heard that if you eat a variety of different kinds of fish, it reduces the risks.
Vitamin pills have never done much for me.
My asthma has progressively become worse over the last 3 months. I do not like taking medication even for hay fever, headaches etc, however waking up in the night not being able to breathe has been scary. I had to take a short dose of steroids – however continues with my inhalers. I then read an article re Vit D and was told by a friend to take Aloe Vera (although yet to find evidence). Steroids i was informed by my collegue who is a pharmacist suppress your body’s natural steroid levels. 3 days ago I stopped all my inhallers and have started 10ug Vit D daily & aloe vera & Bachs remedy at night. I have niot taken my inhalers so far. I do not feel completed cured but i happier as not having to take my inhalers. Would like to see more research on alternative therapy & asthma
there was a recent placebo controlled trial that showed a six fold reduction in asthma attacks in those taking vitamin D. Google vitaminD3world and go to the In the News section of the site