Vitamin D3 and gargling for the prevention of upper respiratory tract infections: a randomized controlled trial.

ABSTRACT:

Background

We undertook a 2X2 factorial, randomized controlled trial (RCT) to assess whether vitamin D3 supplementation (10,000 international units per week) versus placebo and gargling versus no gargling could prevent viral, clinical upper respiratory tract infection (URTI) in university students.

Methods

We randomized 600 students into 4 treatment arms: 1) vitamin D3 and gargling, 2) placebo and gargling, 3) vitamin D3 and no gargling, and 4) placebo and no gargling. Students completed weekly electronic surveys and submitted self-collected mid-turbinate nasal flocked swabs during September and October in 2010 or 2011. Symptomatic students also completed an electronic symptom diary. The primary and secondary outcomes were the occurrence of symptomatic clinical URTI and labo

SUBMITTER: Goodall EC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4041358 | biostudies-literature | 2014 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature