Some scientists believe that asthma and vitamin deficiencies are linked.

Vitamins can, though, help bolster the immune system and reduce infections that may trigger an asthma attack.

That means some supplement products may not contain what the label says.

Assorted Pills

Jim Craigmyle / Getty Images

The current evidence does not support the theory.

Whether this is due to vitamin deficiencies alone is unknown and further research is needed.

All of these factors may have adverse effects on asthma.

Vitamin D

Vitamin D is afat-soluble vitaminthat is produced in the skin following exposure to the sun.

It is also found in dairy and other food products.

What the researchers could not say ishowvitamin D is meant to influence asthma symptoms.

Even so, there was no evidence thatvitamin D supplementscould either prevent or treat asthma.

It is touted as a defense against the common cold.

Antioxidants are substances that neutralize oxygen-containing molecules calledfree radicalsthat cause long-term damage to cells.

To date, though, there is little evidence to support the claim.

Too much vitamin C can also lead to nausea, diarrhea, and kidney stones.

Even so, most of the evidence linking asthma and vitamin E is weak.

That is not to suggest that vitamin supplements have no benefits.

As a general rule, never exceed the dose on the product label.

More is not necessarily better.

Summary

Vitamin deficiencies are common in people with asthma.

There are some experts who believe that such deficiencies are linked to an increased risk of asthma.

Others contend that vitamin supplements can help reduce the frequency or severity of asthma attacks.

2020; 12(9):2879. doi:10.3390/nu12092879

National Institutes of Health.

Office of Dietary Supplements.Vitamin D.

Ali NS, Nanji K.A review on the role of vitamin D in asthma.Cureus.

2017;9(5):e1288.

2023;24(10):8574. doi:10.3390/ijms24108574

National Institutes of Health.

2014;5(1):16-8. doi:10.3945/an.113.005157

National Institutes for Health.

Office of Dietary Supplements.Vitamin C.

Olin JT, Wechsler ME.Asthma: pathogenesis and novel drugs for treatment.BMJ.

2014;349(nov24 8):g5517-g5517.

2014;10(1):58. doi:10.1186/1710-1492-10-58

National Institutes of Health.