Vitamin D supplements could spare more than three million people from colds or flu in the UK each year, researchers claim.

研究人员声称，维生素D的额外摄入每年可预防英国超过三百万人患上感冒或流感。

The sunshine vitamin is vital for healthy bones, but also has a role in the immune system.

这种可以靠阳光补充的维生素对骨骼的健康发展有至关重要的作用，但同时也参与免疫系统的工作。

The analysis, published in the British Medical Journal, argues food should be fortified¹ with the vitamin.

根据《英国医学杂志》的统计结果表明，食物中应该富含维生素。

But Public Health England (PHE) says the infections data is not conclusive², although it does recommend supplements.

虽然英国公共卫生局也承认营养补给的重要性，但他们认为传染病的统计数据并不能起决定性作用。

These, it says, should be taken for improved bone and muscle health.

该卫生局表示，人类需要补充这些营养来增强骨骼和肌肉的健康。

The immune system uses vitamin D to make antimicrobial weapons that puncture³ holes in bacteria and viruses.

免疫系统可以利用维生素D作为杀菌剂，用于杀死人体内的细菌和病毒。

But as vitamin D is made in the skin while out in the sun, many people have low levels during winter.

但是，当皮肤暴露在阳光下时，人体内会合成维生素D，许多人在冬天时体内维生素D的水平较低。

Trials on using supplements to prevent infections have given mixed results, so the researchers pooled data on 11,321 people from 25 separate trials to try to get a definitive⁴ answer.

尝试通过补充营养来预防传染病会产生各种各样的效果，因此研究人员在11321人身上做了25组独立试验，试图得出一个普遍而确定的结论。

The team at Queen Mary University of London (QMUL) looked at respiratory tract⁵ infections - which covers a wide range of illnesses from a sniffle to flu to pneumonia⁶.

伦敦玛丽女王大学的研究小组把目光投向呼吸道感染病，其中广泛地包括从普通感冒到肺炎等的疾病。

Overall, the study said one person would be spared infection for every 33 taking vitamin D supplements.

最终结果表明，在每33个补充维生素D的个体中，就有1个可以有效预防传染病。

That is more effective than flu vaccination⁷, which needs to treat 40 to prevent one case, although flu is far more serious than the common cold.

这比打流感预防疫苗都有效，疫苗在每40个个体中才会有1个个体见效，即使流感比普通感冒要严重得多。

There were greater benefits for those taking pills daily or weekly, rather than in monthly super-doses.

相比较每月吃一次和过量摄入维生素D片的人来说，每天或每周吃一次维生素D片的人会获益更多。