Evidence supporting the use of: Vitamin D
For the health condition: Convalescence

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Synopsis

Source of validity: Scientific
Rating (out of 5): 3

Vitamin D supplementation during convalescence—recovery from illness or surgery—has scientific support, though the evidence is moderate rather than definitive. Vitamin D is essential for bone health, immune function, and muscle strength, all of which can be compromised during prolonged illness or immobility. Deficiency in vitamin D is common in hospitalized patients and those recovering from illness, partly due to limited sunlight exposure and reduced dietary intake.

Several clinical studies have shown that adequate vitamin D status may help reduce the risk of infections, improve muscle strength, and decrease the duration of recovery, especially in older adults or those with chronic illnesses. For example, meta-analyses have found that vitamin D supplementation reduces the risk of acute respiratory infections, which can complicate recovery. Moreover, correction of vitamin D deficiency has been linked to better outcomes in rehabilitation, such as improved physical performance and reduced risk of falls.

However, while mechanistic data and some interventional studies support its use, direct, large-scale evidence specifically targeting vitamin D supplementation as a means of accelerating or improving convalescence across diverse patient populations remains limited. As such, while vitamin D is commonly recommended for patients at risk of deficiency during recovery, the overall strength of evidence for its use as a specific "convalescence aid" is moderate (rated 3/5).

More about vitamin D
More about Convalescence

Other health conditions supported by vitamin D

Acne
Allergies (food)
Allergies (respiratory)
Alzheimer's Disease
Amenorrhea
Anemia
Anorexia
Apathy
Arrhythmia
Arteriosclerosis
Arthritis
Asthma
Autism
Autoimmune Disorders
Backache
Birth Defects (prevention)
Body Building
Broken Bones
Calcium Deficiency
Cancer (natural therapy for)
Cancer (prevention)
Cancer Treatment (reducing side effects)
Cardiovascular Disease
Celiac Disease
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder
Colds (antiviral)
Colds (general)
Colds (prevention)
Colds (with fever)
Concentration (poor)
Concussions
Confusion
Congestive Heart Failure
Contagious Diseases
Convalescence
Convulsions
Cramps (menstrual)
Cramps and Spasms
Crohn's Disease
Cystic Breast Disease
Cystic Fibrosis
Dandruff
Debility
Dementia
Depression
Dermatitis
Diabetes
Diabetic Retinopathy
Erectile Dysfunction
Estrogen (low)
Fatigue
Fibroids (uterine)
Fibromyalgia Syndrome
Fibrosis
Grave's Disease
Grief and Sadness
Hair (loss or thinning)
Hair Care (general)
Hashimoto's Disease
Headache (cluster)
Heart (weakness)
Hypertension
Hypothyroid
Infection
Infection (bacterial)
Infection (viral)
Infertility
Inflammation
Inflammatory Bowel Disorders
Influenza
Injuries
Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Itching
Knees (weak)
Leaky Gut Syndrome
Leprosy
Lesions
Leukemia
Lou Gehrig's Disease
Lupus
Lymphoma
Melanoma
Memory and Brain Function
Menopause
Menstrual Irregularity
Mental Illness
Metabolic Syndrome
Migraine
Miscarriage (prevention)
Mood Swings
Multiple Sclerosis
Muscle Tone (lack of)
Muscular Dystrophy
Myasthenia Gravis
Nephritis
Nerve Damage
Nervous Exhaustion
Numbness
Nursing
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
Oral Surgery
Osteoporosis
Pain (general remedies for)
Pancreatitis
Paralysis
Parkinson's Disease
Peripheral Neuropathy
PMS (general)
PMS Type D
PMS Type H
PMS Type P
PMS Type S
Pneumonia
Polyps
Post Partum Depression
Post Partum Weakness
Pregnancy (herbs and supplements for)
Progesterone (low)
Prostatitis
Psoriasis
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Schizophrenia
Sciatica
Seasonal Affective Disorder
Senility
Tuberculosis