Vitamin D may protect against illness in flu season

A DAILY vitamin D supplement may help young men enjoy more sick-free days during cold and flu season, a study suggests.

Vitamin D has been the subject of much research of late, with studies linking low vitamin D levels in the blood to higher risks of type 1 diabetes and severe asthma attacks in children and, in adults, heart disease, certain cancers and depression.

But whether vitamin D is the reason for the excess risks – and whether taking supplements can curb those risks – has yet to be shown.