New publications
Vitamin D won't help with colds
Last reviewed: 01.07.2025
All iLive content is medically reviewed or fact checked to ensure as much factual accuracy as possible.
We have strict sourcing guidelines and only link to reputable media sites, academic research institutions and, whenever possible, medically peer reviewed studies. Note that the numbers in parentheses ([1], [2], etc.) are clickable links to these studies.
If you feel that any of our content is inaccurate, out-of-date, or otherwise questionable, please select it and press Ctrl + Enter.
Scientists at the University of Otago in Christchurch, New Zealand, find no convincing evidence that vitamin D can protect the body from colds.
" Vitamin D does nothing to prevent or alleviate the symptoms of the disease," said lead author Professor Dr David Murdoch. "There is currently no known effective way to prevent colds. Careful research is needed before any claims are made about the benefits of any vitamin or supplement."
A team of specialists led by Professor Murdoch conducted a study involving 300 healthy adults with normal vitamin D levels. Under medical supervision, half of the subjects took supplements containing vitamin D, and the other half took a placebo.
It turned out that during the study period, which lasted eighteen months, 593 people fell ill with a cold in the first group, and 611 in the second. In both groups, the duration of the illness lasted on average about 12 days.
"There were roughly the same number of patients in both groups, so we can conclude that vitamin D does not have a protective effect on the body and does not combat colds in any way. Our study provides convincing evidence for this fact for the first time, because previous studies by scientists had significant limitations that prevented them from looking at the full picture. This was usually due to the small number of participants in the experiment or the insufficient length of time allocated for observing them."
Experts note that taking vitamin D supplements will be useful for people who suffer from a deficiency in the body and also have chronic respiratory problems.
Dr. Jeffrey Linder, the author of the accompanying article, recommends a method that will surely protect a person from infection - simply stay away from sneezing people, and if you have already "caught" the infection, then try not to infect others and cover yourself with a tissue, and also wash your hands more often.