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May 23, 2006 -- Teenagers who don?t get enough vitamin D in their diets may be hurting their lungs as well as their bones, according to a new study.
Researchers found 35% of teenagers do not get the recommended amount of vitamin D, and those with low vitamin D intake also had significantly worse lung function than those who got a healthy dose of the nutrient.
Vitamin D is found naturally in saltwater fish, egg yolks, and liver and is commonly added to dairy products, such as milk. It?s best known for its ability to help the body absorb calcium and plays an important role in building strong bones.
But researchers say recent studies show that vitamin D may also play a role in lung health.
?Vitamin D is promoted in terms of bone growth, but we also need to think in terms of vitamin D?s other effects on the body,? says researcher Jane Burns, ScD, a research fellow in the department of environmental health at the Harvard University School of Public Health, in a news release. ?It may be that we should be promoting dietary vitamin D intake at recommended levels to ensure optimal lung function as well as to form and maintain healthy bones.?
Vitamin D and Teen Lung Function
In the study presented at the American Thoracic Society?s 102nd International Conference in San Diego, researchers tested the lung function of 2,112 adolescents aged 12-19 in the U.S. and Canada, and gathered information on their diets and food preferences.
The results showed that 35% of the teens consumed less than 200 IU (international units) of vitamin D per day, as recommended by the Institute of Medicine for this age group.
The teens who had low levels of vitamin D in their diets (157 IU or less) also had significantly lower lung function compared with teens who consumed higher levels of vitamin D, including those who got the recommended amount.
Researchers say most teens could get their daily recommended dose of vitamin D by drinking two glasses of vitamin D-fortified milk. But teens are increasingly turning to soft drinks rather than milk.
?These are adolescents who should have optimal pulmonary function,? says Burns. ?If they?re already showing lower pulmonary function associated with lower vitamin D intake at this age, it may have long-term effects on their health.?
?We don?t know by which mechanism vitamin D affects pulmonary function -- it?s an area that needs to be explored,? says Burns.
SOURCES: The American Thoracic Society?s 102nd International Conference, San Diego, May 19-24, 2006. News release, American Thoracic Society.