Looking to cut your risk of catching a bacterial infection? A new study suggests vitamin D may be the answer. UK researchers report that for healthy people exposed to tuberculosis,a single oral dose of vitamin D enhanced their immunity against this bacterial infection. "Vitamin D was used to treat tuberculosis in the pre-antibiotic era," said Dr. Adrian R. Martineau and colleagues. In a clinical trial, they assigned healthy adults exposed to tuberculosis to receive a single oral dose of 2.5 mg (1,000 IU) of vitamin D, or a placebo. After 6 weeks, they found that the vitamin D supplement significantly enhanced the subjects’ immunity to M. tuberculosis compared with those who received the placebo.
Source: American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, July 15, 2007.
