Researchers evaluated 54 adults with asthma. Those with higher vitamin D levels exhibited higher lung function. Whereas, those with lower levels were "almost twice as sensitive to the airway irritant methacholine, commonly used to evaluate the likelihood of airway constriction".
As I've mentioned in previous posts, one method of obtaining vitamin D is by absorbing sunlight. Your body will convert the ultraviolet light into vitamin D. But nowadays there are a few problems with that. Increased fear of skin cancer has lead to an increase in sun block usage. While skin cancer is legit, you should still try to get 10-15min of sun exposure without any sunscreen in order to increase your vitamin D levels.
The second issue is for people living in northern climates. During the winter months, odds are your skin is not being exposed to the sun's rays very much. Hats, gloves, winter coats, etc drastically cut down on the amount of sun you get. And even if you did have some exposure, the sun is not at the proper angle in the sky to receive enough ultraviolet light to transform into vitamin D. In fact, the recommendation is to supplement your diet with 1000IU of vitamin D, as expressed in this article in the Washington Post. And in this study published in The Journal of Nutrition, they recommend anywhere from 800IU to 2000IU of vitamin D supplementation.
As always, if you are considering this approach I would recommend looking at a pharmaceutical grade supplement to ensure you are receiving the greatest benefit. And in addition, consult with your doctor to determine if this is the right approach for you.
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