Meta- analysis of a modest number of trials in people with predominantly mild to moderate asthma suggests that vitamin D is likely to reduce both the risk of severe asthma exacerbation and healthcare use .
Children and people with frequent severe asthma exacerbations were under-represented ; additional primary trials are needed to establish whether vitamin D can reduce the risk of severe asthma exacerbation in these groups
BACKGROUND Several clinical trials of vitamin D to prevent  asthma exacerbation  and improve  asthma control  have been conducted in children and adults , but a meta- analysis restricted to double-blind , r and omised , placebo-controlled trials of this intervention is lacking .
OBJECTIVES To evaluate the efficacy of administration of vitamin D and its hydroxylated metabolites in reducing the risk of severe asthma exacerbations ( defined as those requiring treatment with systemic corticosteroids ) and improving asthma symptom control .
Vitamin D accelerates resolution of inflammatory responses during tuberculosis treatment
Calcidiol , the major circulating metabolite of vitamin D , supports induction of pleiotropic antimicrobial responses in vitro . Vitamin D supplementation elevates circulating calcidiol concentrations , and thus has a potential role in the prevention and treatment of infection . The immunomodulatory effects of administering vitamin D to humans with an infectious disease have not previously been reported . To characterize these effects , we conducted a detailed longitudinal study of circulating and antigen-stimulated immune responses in ninety-five patients receiving antimicrobial therapy for pulmonary tuberculosis who were r and omized to receive adjunctive high-dose vitamin D or placebo in a clinical trial , and who fulfilled criteria for per- protocol analysis . Vitamin D supplementation accelerated sputum smear conversion and enhanced treatment-induced resolution of lymphopaenia , monocytosis , hypercytokinaemia , and hyperchemokinaemia . Administration of vitamin D also suppressed antigen-stimulated proinflammatory cytokine responses , but attenuated the suppressive effect of antimicrobial therapy on antigen-stimulated secretion of IL-4 , CC chemokine lig and 5 , and IFN-α . We demonstrate a previously unappreciated role for vitamin D supplementation in accelerating resolution of inflammatory responses during tuberculosis treatment . Our findings suggest a potential role for adjunctive vitamin D supplementation in the treatment of pulmonary infections to accelerate resolution of inflammatory responses associated with increased risk of mortality
Meta- analysis of a modest number of trials in people with predominantly mild to moderate asthma suggests that vitamin D is likely to reduce both the risk of severe asthma exacerbation and healthcare use .
Children and people with frequent severe asthma exacerbations were under-represented ; additional primary trials are needed to establish whether vitamin D can reduce the risk of severe asthma exacerbation in these groups
BACKGROUND Several clinical trials of vitamin D to prevent  asthma exacerbation  and improve  asthma control  have been conducted in children and adults , but a meta- analysis restricted to double-blind , r and omised , placebo-controlled trials of this intervention is lacking .
OBJECTIVES To evaluate the efficacy of administration of vitamin D and its hydroxylated metabolites in reducing the risk of severe asthma exacerbations ( defined as those requiring treatment with systemic corticosteroids ) and improving asthma symptom control .