HELSINKI, Finland—A recent study published in The Journal of Infectious Diseases (September 2010), found no clear difference between placebo group and vitamin D group in the average number of days missed from duty due to a respiratory infection—bronchitis, sinus infections, pneumonia, ear infections and sore throat. However, men in the vitamin D group were more likely to have no days missed from work due to a respiratory illness.
A total of 164 Finnish male subjects, military recruits, were randomly to take either 400 IU/d of vitamin D or placebo for six months—from October to March, which are the months with high amounts of vitamin D deficiency in Finland in all age groups. Due to the high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in Finland, dairy products fortified with vitamin D were implemented in 2003. On average, men who took vitamin D missed about two days from duty because of a respiratory infection, compared with three days in the placebo group. That difference was not significant in statistical terms. Reuters reported 51 percent remained healthy throughout the six-month study versus 36 percent of the placebo group.
