New evidence
Zinc cut infection risk by 32% in a new umbrella review — but the same analysis flagged vitamin D with a more modest 12% reduction, and both findings rest on a body of evidence still thin enough to treat as preliminary.
This is among the first broad looks at these specific nutrient–infection pairs, so the numbers are intriguing but far from settled — expect future studies to shift the estimates.
A high-level umbrella review pooling multiple studies found that zinc supplements lowered the risk of getting an infection by roughly a third (RR 0.68), while vitamin D had a smaller protective effect (OR 0.88). Because this is one of the first reviews to isolate these specific results, the exact sizes of those benefits are still uncertain and likely to change with more research.
Where this fits in the evidence
This is among the first studies we've indexed on Vitamin D for Reduced Infection Rate — treat it as an early signal until more research accumulates.
The study
- Systematic Review
- 2025-12-01
- Journal of preventive medicine and hygiene
This is a plain-language summary of a research finding, not medical advice. Pillser surfaces research signals to help you decide what's worth investigating — always consult a qualified professional before changing what you take.