Can lack of vitamin D cause a sore throat?
All vitamins and minerals are essential for various purposes within our bodies,[1] but if you’re feeling under the weather, it can be difficult to pinpoint the exact problem.
In this blog, we discuss whether vitamin D deficiencies can play a role in causing sore throat symptoms.
Can vitamin D deficiency cause a sore throat?
It’s well established that vitamin D helps to regulate the levels of certain minerals, particularly phosphorus and calcium, within the body. These substances help to support the formation and maintenance of the bones, teeth and muscles – so a vitamin D deficiency can have a big impact in these areas.[2]
But what about respiratory health?
According to some research, vitamin D may play a role in supporting the immune system.[3] This is based on several studies that have found a correlation between low levels of vitamin D and minor respiratory illnesses such as colds and the flu. In other words, among those seeking treatment for illnesses like this, the majority studied have been found to have a vitamin D deficiency. [3,4]
This research seems to suggest a link between vitamin D levels and susceptibility to minor illness – but scientists have yet to prove a conclusive connection. For example, it’s currently unclear whether low vitamin D causes a susceptibility to illness or is a symptom of those illnesses.
Other research, however, has gone a step further. This research examined the vitamin D levels of patients with ear, nose or throat (ENT) infections, finding vitamin D deficiency was ‘extremely common’. It also found that supplementing vitamin D levels led to improvements in some patients. This suggests that getting more vitamin D may help to ease minor illnesses if you are vitamin D deficient.[5]
Like the rest of the research, these results are far from conclusive. At present, the general advice is to treat minor illnesses like colds symptomatically – so if you have a sore throat, dual action, soothing antiseptic treatments like Chloralieve Honey and Lemon sore throat lozenges may help to fight off the infection and numb the pain.
Beyond that, if your symptoms persist for longer than a couple of days, you should seek advice from a healthcare professional, such as a pharmacist or your GP.[6] But, if you want to try supplementing your vitamin D intake, doing so within safe levels may help you to feel better.[5]
How to get vitamin D
The primary way to get vitamin D is through sunlight exposure – getting out in the sunshine prompts our bodies to begin the processes that produce vitamin D. In the UK, most people can get enough vitamin D from sunlight from around early April to late September – without having to take any supplements.
In the colder, darker winter months, though, when there are fewer hours of sunlight a day, we don’t tend to make enough vitamin D from sunlight. However, you can also get small amounts of vitamin D from your diet. You might get vitamin D from:
- Fortified foods such as some breakfast cereals or fat spreads – these should state on the packaging whether they contain vitamin D
- Liver – not suitable if you’re pregnant
- Red meat
- Egg yolks
- Oily fish.
Even with diet taken into consideration, most people in the UK don’t get enough vitamin D in winter. Because of this, the NHS recommends that everyone should use vitamin D supplements during this period. Similarly, anyone who is at higher risk of not getting enough vitamin D should take a supplement year-round.
This includes:
- Anyone who doesn’t spend much time outdoors – for example, people who are housebound or frail
- Anyone living in an institution such as a care home
- Anyone who usually wears clothes that cover up most of their skin when out and about
- Anyone with dark skin, such as those from South Asian, African or African-Caribbean backgrounds.
Not sure whether you need a supplement? If you’re feeling symptoms you think might be linked to a vitamin D deficiency, you should speak to a healthcare professional. Otherwise, it may be worth trying a supplement to see if you feel any benefits. Most vitamin D supplements contain 10 micrograms of the vitamin – for the majority of people, this is not enough to cause ill effects even if you’re already getting enough vitamin D.[2]
Resources
[1] – https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/vitamins-and-minerals/
[2] – https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/vitamins-and-minerals/vitamin-d/
[3] – https://www.nih.gov/news-events/nih-research-matters/low-vitamin-d-levels-associated-colds-flu
[4] – https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19548380/
