By David Liu, PHD

Tuesday Oct 02, 2012 (foodconsumer.org) -- Taking vitamin D supplements may help prevent acute lower respiratory tract infection ( ALRI) in early childhood, a study in Journal of Topical Pediatrics suggests.

The study led by W.A. Mohamed and M.A. Al-Shehri of Minia University in Minia, Egypt showed that children with low vitamin D levels or vitamin D deficiency were more likely to experience acute lower respiratory tract infection.

Vitamin D is necessary for humans to produce antibacterial peptides against viral and bacterial infections and the vitamin helps boosts innate immunity, which has been reported in the prestigious academic journal Nature.  Because vitamin D help prevent infections, the study did not yield anything really surprising. 

The current study was intended to determine how cord blood 25-hydroxyvitamin D or 25(OH) D concentrations in 206 newborns would affect the subsequent risk of acute lower respiratory tract infection in the first two years of life in the subjects.

It was observed that 30.1% infants or 62 infants out of 206 children ever suffered acute lower respiratory tract infection in the first two years of life.  Of these children, 79 percent had bronchiolitis and 21 percent had pneumonia.

It was also found that infants who suffered from the infection were more likely than those who did not suffer the infection to have lower concentrations of 25 (OH) D.   And vitamin D deficiency was correlated with increased risk of acute lower respiratory tract infection.

The researchers concluded "Low cord blood 25 (OH) D levels are associated with increased risk of ALRI in the first 2 years of life."

Vitamin D in extremely important for a person's health or should we say life!   Vitamin D deficiency has been associated with more than 100 health conditions including cancer, heart disease, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and depression, according to the Vitamin D Council.

Vitamin D is also important for children's brains or neurodevelopment.  Vitamin D deficiency has been linked with the development of autism.

For those who want to take vitamin D supplements or give their little one some, vitamin D drops are recommended.  Many vitamin D supplements contain lots of fillers and additives.