r, it's difficult to get enough vitamin D from your diet (most of our vitamin D is made in our skin when it's exposed to sunlight) and many people in the UK are short of vitamin D. Taking vitamin D supplements may help reduce the risk of getting respiratory tract infections.
Further reading & references
- Guidelines for the management of community acquired pneumonia in adults; British Thoracic Society (2009), Thorax Vol 64 Sup III
- Guidelines for the management of adult lower respiratory tract infections; European Respiratory Society and European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (September 2011)
- Over-the-counter cough and cold medicines for children; Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), 2009
- Antibiotic awareness resources: key messages on antibiotic use; Public Health England
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Dr Sarah Jarvis
Dr Hayley Willacy