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Vitamin D protects the lungs from the effects of smoking
Last reviewed: 16.10.2021
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Vitamin D deficiency is associated with worsening pulmonary function and a rapid long-term decline in this function in smokers. According to scientists, this is due to the fact that vitamin D has a protective effect against the effects of smoking on lung function.
"We studied the relationship between vitamin D deficiency, smoking, lung function and the rate of its decline over 20 years among 626 adult Caucasian patients who participated in the Normative Aging Study.We have found that a sufficient amount of vitamin D (deficiency is determined at a level less than 20 ng / ml) has a protective effect and a beneficial effect on the lungs of smokers, "- commented the head of the work Nancy Lange, a member of the Channing Laboratory of the Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston.
In the course of the study, vitamin D levels were evaluated in volunteers three times between 1984 and 2003, lung function was examined with spirometry (functional lung examination, including the measurement of external respiration volume with a spirometer). In subjects with vitamin D deficiency, the volume of forced exhalation in 1 second (FEV1) was 12 ml lower compared to those who did not experience vitamin deficiency (FEV1 was lower by 6.5 ml).
"The results of our study show that vitamin D can reduce the harmful effects of smoking on lung function, which may be related to the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties of the vitamin," says N. Lange. According to her, if the findings are confirmed in future work, they will be of great importance for public health. In the near future, she plans to find out whether vitamin D has a positive effect on the lungs of victims of polluted air.
"Despite the exciting results of the study, the danger of smoking for health outweighs the beneficial effects of vitamin D on lung function." In the first place, smokers should be well informed about the health consequences of smoking, they need help to get rid of this harmful habit, "says Alexander White, chairman American Thoracic Society.
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