(HealthDay News) --
Vitamin D supplements don't seem to help most patients suffering from chronic
obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), according to a new study by Belgian
investigators.
Emphysema and
chronic bronchitis are the two main forms of COPD, and many sufferers have
both. The condition makes it hard for people to breathe.
Since most COPD
patients are vitamin D deficient and vitamin D helps fight inflammation, the
hope was that high doses of the sunshine vitamin would reduce the number of
severe flare-ups ("exacerbations") that can land patients in the
hospital, researchers said.
"There are
studies showing that patients with vitamin D deficiency are more susceptible to
different inflammatory, infectious and autoimmune diseases, and most likely
COPD," said lead investigator Dr. Wim Janssens, from the respiratory
division at University Hospital Gasthuisberg in Leuven.
However, this study
found only a limited benefit from vitamin D supplementation, he said. Readmore…