Vitamin D May Protect Smokers' Lungs
By: Charlotte Ames
Updated: July 20, 2012
Smoking is terrible for your lungs, but a new study shows that a particular vitamin may help smokers breathe better. Vitamin D may protect against lung damage and decline in smokers
Smokers with a vitamin D deficiency seem to have worse lung function and it declines more rapidly over time, which suggests the vitamin may protect the lungs.
Researchers looked at vitamin D deficiency, smoking, and lung function, over 20 years. They found smokers with sufficient vitamin D maintained better lung function.
"While these results are intriguing, the health hazards associated with smoking far outweigh any protective effect that vitamin D may have on lung function ," said Alexander C. White MS, MD, chair of the American Thoracic Society's Tobacco Action Committee.
Smokers with a vitamin D deficiency seem to have worse lung function and it declines more rapidly over time, which suggests the vitamin may protect the lungs.
Researchers looked at vitamin D deficiency, smoking, and lung function, over 20 years. They found smokers with sufficient vitamin D maintained better lung function.
"While these results are intriguing, the health hazards associated with smoking far outweigh any protective effect that vitamin D may have on lung function ," said Alexander C. White MS, MD, chair of the American Thoracic Society's Tobacco Action Committee.
Comments
I'm on vitamin D and have COPD, don't seem to help any.
Dorothy W.
July 21, 2012 at 5:29 pm
Charlotte Ames is the area's only local Health Reporter and brings you the latest medical health news weeknights. You can catch Healthcast on WTAJ News at 5:00pm and her Health Headlines report on WTAJ News at 5:30pm.