The Unexpected Amount of Vitamin D Required to Help COPD Rehabilitation
VITAMIN D SUPPLEMENTS BOOST COPD REHABILITATION BENEFIT
A study has found that, among chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients who participated in a three-month respiratory rehabilitation exercise program, those who simultaneously received large-dose vitamin D supplementation experienced a significant boost in exercise capacity and respiratory muscle strength, compared to those who received placebos. (COPD is a progressive lung disease that includes chronic bronchitis and emphysema, and can involve chronic coughing or shortness of breath; it is exacerbated by a lack of exercise, which is common among sufferers, and rehabilitation programs aim to increase lung muscle strength and exercise capacity.)
Although the US recommended daily allowance for vitamin D is 600 international units (IU) for those up to age 70, and 800 IU for those older, the researchers gave some COPD rehabilitation patients 100,000 IU daily. Within three months, those patients significantly surpassed the others in lung strength and exercise capacity.
Researchers suggested vitamin D supplements could boost the regular benefits of rehabilitation programs. Further study is needed to determine how vitamin D effects this benefit. This study was presented today, May 16, 2011 at the international conference of the American Thoracic Society in Denver. It is not yet available online.
Activity, Not Just Exercise,Improves COPD
A study has determined that the day-to-day functioning of COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) patients is much more improved by an increase in the number and variety of daily physical activities such as walking to the bank or doing housework, than by an increase in formal exercise routines.
In other words, formal exercise programs can increase physical fitness in COPD patients but the resultant day-to-day functional ability is still very limited by disease severity; but those who had a more active, task-oriented lifestyle – without formal exercise – were better able to rise above their COPD severity.
COPD refers to chronic bronchitis and emphysema, in both of which the airways of the lungs become narrowed. This study was presented May 16 at the American Thoracic Society’s 2010 annual conference in New Orleans and will be published online and in print.