We all know vitamins are good for you and that help prevent a number of possible future illnesses, but did you know that a just weekly serving of vitamin D will in fact increase your chances of not catching a cold.
According to a group of scientists in the UK the sunshine vitamin could be influential in stopping people from falling ill with a respiratory infection.
The latest study conducted by researchers at the Queen Mary University in London, has now led to calls for everyday food to be supplemented with Vitamin D in order to combat the common cold.
The researchers say the call for the vitamin to be added to foods such as milk or bread would be beneficial as it is unrealistic to encourage the public to take supplements on on a regular basis.
According to the British Medical Journal of the 11,000 people who took part in 25 clinical trials conducted in 14 countries, people who took the supplements significantly reduced their chances of developing a respiratory infection by 50%.
Speaking about the latest study lead researcher Professor Adrian Martineau said: “This collaborative research effort has yielded the first definitive evidence that vitamin D really does protect against respiratory infections. Our data has provided a whole new reason to back up the advice on vitamin D supplementation.”
Although Martineau also said “it isn’t realistic to expect everyone to take pills.”
“Either the whole adult population takes an over-the-counter supplement or moves are made to introduce food fortification.”