Effects of Vitamin D3 Supplementation on Lung Function of Healthy Non-Smoking Young Iraqi Subjects

Abstract

Background: There is an increasing evidence that vitamin D3 improves lung function in respiratory diseased subjects. Higher plasma vitamin D3 concentrations are also linked to better lung function in several communities.

Objectives: To study the effects of single oral vitamin D3 supplementation (600 IU) on lung function in healthy non-smoking young Iraqi subjects.

Methodology: Spirometric tests represented by forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in first one second (FEV₁) and forced expiratory volume ratio (FEV%) were done for 82 healthy non-smoking young Iraqi college students (38 males and 44 females) in two occasions one month apart (first and second visits). They were divided into two main groups: Control group (CRL) and Vitamin D3 group (VTD). CRL group contained 42 subjects (18 males and 24 females) who didn't receive oral vitamin D3 supplementation. VTD group contained 40 subjects (20 males and 20 females) who received single oral vitamin D3 supplementation (600 IU). The ages of the study population were the same (20 years) and their heights were not significantly different within each sex.

Results: It was found that FVC and FEV₁ (but not FEV%) were significantly higher (of 80 ml to 130 ml) in the second visit than in the first visit in both groups (VTD and CRL) and in either sex (all p<0.05).

Conclusion: Depending on the results of present research; it is concluded that in healthy non-smoking Iraqi subjects; vitamin D3 doesn't seem to have positive effects on Spirometric measurements other than these observed in control subjects.