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Vitamin D could help manage asthma, study says

Vitamin D could help manage asthma, study says
Posted at 6:57 AM, Sep 15, 2016
and last updated 2016-09-15 09:57:08-04

Researchers might have found a new way to help manage asthma. 

A recent double-blind study took a look at whether vitamin D could help those suffering from asthma. The results showed that vitamin D reduced the risk of severe asthma exacerbation for those with mild or moderate asthma. 

Asthma is a chronic disease that inflames the airways, according to the American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology. The disease can be triggered by various things to further swollen the airways making it difficult to breath. 

Vitamin D is produced when the sun hits the skin and promotes calcium absorption, according to the National Institutes of Health. The vitamin also helps build bones among other perks. Vitamin D is in very few foods but can be taken as a dietary supplement. 

The research published by the Cochran Database of Systematic Reviews concludes that vitamin D likely offers protection against severe asthma attacks. The study tested 435 children and 658 adults and the study compared vitamin D to a placebo. 

The study ranged from four to 12 months.