As I told you earlier this week, there’s more to developing lung disease — including lung cancer — than just smoking. Much more.
But you’d never know that fact from examining the government’s politically correct, 30-year-old lung disease research program, which focuses exclusively on smoking cessation and prevention.
Thankfully, more recent avenues in research have revealed a lot more about the causes of lung disease. In fact, a new study shows vitamin D levels in the blood significantly impact lung health.
For this study, researchers followed 442 people between the ages of 50 and 84 from Auckland, New Zealand. They randomly assigned the participants to receive either a placebo or 200,000 IU of vitamin D for month one (that’s about 6,600 IU per day), and then followed by 100,000 IU per month (about 3,300 IU per day) for a total duration of 12 months.
The researchers took blood samples from the participants at the study’s outset for a baseline reading. Then, they took samples again at six and 12 months. They also measured lung functional capacity with two types of tests.
At the study’s outset, approximately 14 percent of the participants had asthma, 17 percent had COPD (emphysema), and 49 percent reported past or present smoking.
First, let’s look at the overall improvements in vitamin D levels…
As you’d expect, vitamin D levels went up in the participants who took vitamin D supplements. In fact, high dose vitamin D supplementation over the year increased vitamin D levels in the blood by more than 50 nanomoles per liter (nmol/L).
In addition, participants in the vitamin D group who reported a history of smoking significantly improved their lung function. And among smokers who had insufficient vitamin D levels at the study’s outset, the benefits were even greater. The benefits were also greater in those with asthma.
These findings make perfect sense, as we know vitamin D benefits the respiratory system and lungs. It also plays a key role in balancing the immune system, reducing chronic inflammation, and supporting muscle health — all of which support respiratory health.
Now, let’s take that connection just one step further…
Other breakthrough research shows vitamin D helps prevent — and reverse — lung cancer. Much of this research focuses on vitamin’s D role in cell regulation and apoptosis (cell death, or death of cancer cells). You can learn more about the role of vitamin D in the fight against lung cancer in my online Authentic Anti-Cancer Protocol. Simply click here to learn more about this protocol, as well as my other learning courses.
Of course, vitamin D also has dozens of other benefits in the body.
So, achieving and maintaining optimal vitamin D levels should be a top priority for everyone — and especially if you have lung disease.
Regulating your vitamin D levels
Of course, the first step in reaching an optimal vitamin D level is to determine your current blood level. Ask your doctor at your annual check-up to test your vitamin D level with a 25(OH)D test. Ideally, you want your level to be between 50 nmol/L and 75 nmol/L.
In order to reach that optimal level, make sure to take a daily vitamin D supplement. (This is particularly important at this time of year when you experience less exposure to sunlight.)
I keep it simple and recommend 10,000 IU per day year-round in a convenient, liquid form. (Look for it combined with other healthy ingredients, like the potent marine carotenoid astaxanthin.)
Source:
“Effect of monthly, high-dose, long-term, Vitamin D on lung function,” Nutrients, 2017 Dec 13;9(12)