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

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Synopsis

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

Vitamin D has been studied for its role in supporting the immune system and potentially helping to prevent or treat infections. The scientific rationale arises from vitamin D’s function in modulating both innate and adaptive immune responses. Immune cells such as macrophages and dendritic cells express vitamin D receptors and are able to convert circulating 25(OH)D to the active form, calcitriol, which then influences the expression of antimicrobial peptides like cathelicidin and defensins. These peptides enhance the body’s ability to destroy invading pathogens, especially in the respiratory tract.

Epidemiological studies have found associations between low vitamin D levels and increased susceptibility to infections such as influenza, pneumonia, and respiratory tract infections. Several randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and meta-analyses have investigated whether vitamin D supplementation reduces infection risk. A 2017 meta-analysis published in BMJ found that vitamin D supplementation modestly reduced the risk of acute respiratory infections, particularly in individuals with marked vitamin D deficiency. However, results across studies are mixed, with some trials showing no significant benefit.

While vitamin D is not a treatment for active infection, maintaining adequate levels may help reduce the risk or severity of infections. The evidence is strongest for respiratory tract infections, while data for other infections are less robust. Thus, scientific evidence supports a preventive role for vitamin D in certain infections, but further research is needed to clarify optimal dosing, target populations, and effects on specific pathogens.

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Other ingredients used for Infection

2'-Fucosyllactose
3-Phenyllactic Acid
Abrus
Abuta
Acacia
Acemannan
Aerva lanata
Agarikon Mushroom
Agastache
Agave
AHCC
Ajoene
Alantolactone
Alchornea
Alkylglycerols
Allicin
Alliin
Allspice
Allyl sulfide
alpha-humulene
alpha-pinene
alpha-terpineol
Alstonia macrophylla
Alstonia scholaris
amber
American Liverleaf
Ampelopsis
anamu
Andrographis
andrographolide
Angelica
animal protein
annatto
apple cider vinegar
Aquilegia viridiflora
arabinogalactan
Ardisia
artesunate
Asam gelugor
Asarum heterotropoides
Asarum sieboldii
astragalus
aucubin
Aureobasidium pullulans
avens
babchi
Baccharis dracunculifolia
Baccharoides anthelmintica
Bacillus
bacillus clausii
Backhousia citriodora
bacteria
balsam
banyan
Baphicacanthus cusia
barbary matrimony vine
Barleria
Basidiomycota
bayberry
bearberry
bee pollen
bee propolis
Beef liver
Belamcanda
benzyl isothiocyanate
Berberis (unspecified)
Bergenia
beta-glucan
betel
Bifidobacterium
Bifidobacterium infantis
bignay
birch
bisabolene
bitter principals
black nightshade
black pepper
black root
black walnut
blackboard tree
blackthorn
Blepharis
boneset
Borassus aethiopum
borassus palm
Bupleurum
burdock
cactus
Caesalpinia crista
cajuput
calamus
caprylic acid
cardamom
carvacrol
cassava
cassia bark
cat's claw
catechu
celandine
Celastrus
Celosia
Centipeda
Chaenomeles lagenaria
chaff flower
chaga mushroom
chervil
Chiococca alba
chirata
Chlorophytum
Cinchona
Cistus
citral
Clerodendrum indicum
Clerodendrum trichotomum
cocklebur
coconut oil
Coin-leaf desmodium
colloidal silver
copaiba oil
Coptis chinensis
coriolus mushroom
corktree
croton seeds
cubeb
cuspidatum root
Cyanthillium cinereum
Cymbidium goeringii
Cynodon dactylon
dense fruit dittany
deoxyandrographolides
dialyzable leukocyte extract
Dichrostachys glomerata
Echinacea
echinacea purpurea
Echinodorus
elderberry
elephant\'s head
Embelia
English horsemint
eucalyptus
eugenol
Euphorbia
European Elder
fang-feng
fern
Ficus religiosa
figwort
flowering quince
Flueggea suffruticosa
fucoidan
furans
Galbanum
Gallesia
genipap
geranial
geraniol
ginger
Globulins
Glucan peptides
Glucanase
glyceryl monolaurate
Golden Willow
goldenseal
Graviola
green chiretta
Guazuma ulmifolia
heartwood
Hedychium spicatum
Horsemint
Houttuynia
Humic acid
Hygrophila
hyssop
immunoglobin G
Immunoglobulin G
Indian coraltree
Indian gum arabic tree
Indian nightshade
iodine
Isoalantolactone
judastree
Kefiran
knotgrass
Kochia
L. lactis
Labdanum
Lactobacillus brevis
Lactobacillus kefiri
Lactococcus lactis
Lactoferrin
Lactoperoxidase
Lantana camara
Lapachol
lauric acid
Lentinan
Leptadenia
Leptospermum scoparium
Lesser speargrass
lichen
licorice root
lime
liverwort
Lomatium
Lophira lanceolata
Lysimachia
lysozyme
Macaranga indica
malabar nut
Malva sylvestris
mangosteen
mangostin
manzanita
Marsh Tea
Matapalo Tree
Meadow sage
Microtea debilis
Milk Protein
Mondo grass
Monolaurin
Moringa
Mormon Tea
Mountain horopito
Myrobalan
Myrrh
N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC)
Naphthoquinones
Neem tree
Neoandrographolides
Nymphaea nouchali
Oldenlandia diffusa
oregon grape
oriental arborvitae
Osha
paederia foetida
pagoda tree
Pareira
Patrinia
pau d'arco
Pediococcus acidilactici
Pelargonium
Pellitory
Pepper Bark Tree
Peroxidase
Phellodendron
phlorotannins
Phragmites
Piper chaba
Piper retrofractum
Piperine
pistacia integerrima gall
Plectranthus amboinicus
Pluchea
Plumbago zeylanica
pogoda tree
Pokeweed
Polygonum
Polyporus
polysaccharides
Portulaca
Premna
prickly ash
probiotics
protein
purified silver
purple Tephrosia
Quisqualis
ravinsara
red root
reishi mushroom
Rhabdosia rubescens
Rosa laevigata
Rubia cordifolia
Rubia yunnanensis
rue
Sandalwood
Sandy Everlasting
Sanguisorba
Sarcandra glabra
sarsaparilla
Savory
schizonepeta
Schizophyllum commune
Scoparia dulcis
scrophularia root
sea salt
selenium
Self-Heal
Serrapeptase
Sesquiterpenic Acid
Simaruba
Siphoviridae
Skunkvine
Smoketree
Solanum anguivi
Spanish Needle
Speedwell
Spilanthes
Spiny Restharrow
spirulina
Stachytarpheta cayennensis
Stemona
Stephania root
Stereospermum
Storax
streptococcus thermophilus
Streptomyces
Sulfated polysaccharide
Sumac
sweet wormwood
Swertia
Sword Bean
Tannins
Tansy
Terminalia
Terpinen-4-ol
Tetracyclic oxindole alkaloids
Thiosulfinate
Thuja
Trametes
Turkey tail mushroom
turmeric
Tylophorine
Umckalin
Umckaloabo
Verbascoside
Verbena
Veronica
vitamin A
vitamin C
vitamin D
vitamin D3
Waltheria ovata
Wasabi
Water Pepper
White oak
Winter Begonia
Xanthorrhizol
Yellow Nut Sedge
Yellow root
Yellow-Fruit Nightshade
Yerba santa
Zinc
Zingerone

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