Today, vitamin D effect and tuberculosis is an important issue.

Some observational (case-control and cohort) studies suggest that sufficient serum vitamin D levels could be a protect factor of tuberculosis infection conversion (Arnedo-Pena et a: BMC Infect Dis. 2011 Dec 15;11:349. Arnedo-Pena Epidemiol Infect. 2015 Jun;143(8):1731-41), and a clinical trial found that vitamina D supplements in children could prevent tuberculin skin test conversion (p=0.06) ( Ganmaa, D, et al. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 2012; 96: 391–396).

In addition, some cohort studies have found that low vitamin D levels were associated with tuberculosis incidence ( Talat et al. Emerging Infectious Diseases 2010; 16: 853–855; Sudfeld, C, et al. Journal of Infectious Diseases 2013; 207: 378–385. Arnedo-Pena et al. Int J Tuberc Lung Dis. 2015 Jan;19(1):65-9. Gupta et al PLoS One. 2016 Feb 12;11(2):e0148649).

Jos:

Thanks for this excellent and timely question! Here's my thoughts based on my own internal review:

TROUBLE IN PARADISE: Before taking up the assessment of the methodological strength of the Martineau findings, I would note at the outset that central to the problem of determining benefit or efficacy in this context, is the fact that all conclusions of SR/MAs conducted to date have been limited by wide variabilities in

(1) dosing regimens (daily supplementation vs bolus),

(2) age ranges,

(3) health status of the populations (healthy vs unhealthy participants),

(4) types of respiratory tract infections,

(5) outcome metrics (severity vs duration vs incidence), and

(6) laboratory confirmation protocols with respect to respiratory tract infections,

among still other potential confounders. Given this, it is unsurprising that conclusions from SR/MAs, and the underlying RCTs, have been wholly inconsistent.

THE DEVIL IS IN THE METHODOLOGY: In the Martineau SR/MA, the conclusions are made fragile by some significant methodological limitations. The SR/MA had insufficient power to detect effects of vitamin D supplementation on subjects with low (

Yes, vitamin D might prevent infections, including flu. https://www.bmj.com/content/356/bmj.i6583

Dear Constantine, thank you for your thoughtful comments on the Martineau paper.

Dear Paulo, the paper you suggest is the same as the one I used to start this dicussion. So, what is your point?

Best regards,

Jos

Dear Jos,

Sorry, I haven't see the "read more" with the article.

I have used vitamin D supplementation for 16 years (colecalciferol), but I have more questions than answers about that.

The main problem is vitamin D might be a marker for health stile. People with naturally higher vitamin d stay more time outdoors, which means that more exercise and less time indoor.

Best regards,

Paulo

Some additional information on the association / relation of vit D and influenza / resp tract infections

a balanced review of Gruber (2018) titled 'Vitamin D and Influenza—Prevention or Therapy?' concludes that there might be a positive effect but more studies are needed. Article Vitamin D and Influenza—Prevention or Therapy?

or the also recent study of Zhou who is suggesting a positive effect when giving 1200 iU daily to chinese children.

Zhou: Preventive Effects of Vitamin D on Seasonal Influenza A in Infants. Pediatr Infect Dis J 2018;37:749–754

and of course the traditional review of Cannel et al, partly based on epidimiolocical studies. 'Epidemic influenza and vitamin D' Epidemiol. Infect. 2006;

There are evidences found association between Vitamin D and infectious diseases, including seasonal influenza. Recently H1N1 virus affected someone I know. One of the major reasons identified in diagnosis was Vitamin D deficiency. So regarding your question- it is true that Vitamin D has huge contribution in our immune system that protect us from any kind of influenza.

I think that the initial level of 25-OH D is important, but this is only one of the factors, but an important factor, affecting the immunity and prevention of respiratory diseases. In Russia, 60% of young children have a deficiency of vitamin D, and among schoolchildren - 80-90%, therefore vitamin D is important for the prevention of respiratory diseases.

Dear Stanislav, I fully agree on the importancy of the initial level.

See my initial statements.

Dear Mamunur, Thank you for sharing your vision and personal observation.

Dear Jos P M Wielders Sir,

I think "Yes". Please take a look at the following RG links and PDF attachment.

Article Vitamin D, Innate Immunity and Upper Respiratory Tract Infection

Article Vitamin D and Respiratory Tract Infections: A Systematic Rev...

Article Vitamin D3 and gargling for the prevention of upper respirat...

Article Vitamin D for prevention of respiratory tract infections: A ...

Article Vitamin D and Influenza—Prevention or Therapy?

Article Vitamin D supplementation to prevent acute respiratory tract...

Regards

Dear Arvind Singh

Thank you for your comment and valuable contribution to the discussion with this set of publications.

Regards

Yes, vitamin D can reduces influenza. As Gerry Schwalfenberg says that the use of vitamin D as a prophylactic for influenza has shown promise in prevention of illness and reduction of secondary asthma in children . Please have a look on the attachments below:

Article Vitamin D for influenza

Article Vitamin D and Influenza—Prevention or Therapy?

https://www.vitamindcouncil.org/health-conditions/influenza/#.XFWhiEyHHIU

https://grassrootshealth.net/blog/vitamin-d-prevent-flu-epidemic/

https://www.jacksonsun.com/story/news/local/2018/11/09/can-vitamin-d-prevent-flu/1947956002/

Scientists concluded that vitamin D3 supplementation reduced the incidence of flu. Additionally, they also found that people who suffer from asthma who also have low vitamin D levels were 5 times more likely to become sick with the flu than those not supplementing with the vitamin. The studies confirm that vitamin D protects against colds and flu.

You can return the following attached links:

https://www.care2.com/greenliving/does-vitamin-d-really-prevent-the-flu.html#15491159974142&action=expand_widget&id=0&data=

https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2017/02/study-confirms-vitamin-d-protects-against-cold-and-flu/

https://www.avogel.co.uk/health/immune-system/can-vitamin-d-prevent-colds-and-flu/