London, Nov 7 (IANS): Patients with severe burns who have higher levels of Vitamin D recover more successfully than those with lower levels, researchers claimed to have found.

A study that is claimed to be the first to investigate the role of Vitamin D in recovery from burn injuries suggests that Vitamin D supplementation may be a simple and cost-effective treatment to enhance burn healing, the researchers said.

"Major burn injury severely reduces Vitamin D levels and adding this vitamin back may be a simple, safe and cost-effective way to improve outcomes for burns patients, with minimal cost to NHS," said Janet Lord, Professor at the Institute of Inflammation and Aging in Birmingham.

Vitamin D is known to have antibacterial actions that may help combat infection and therefore aid in wound healing of burn patients.

In order to investigate the role of Vitamin D in recovery from burn injuries, researchers assessed the recovery progress, over one year, in patients with severe burns and correlated this with their Vitamin D levels.

The study, presented at the Society for Endocrinology annual conference in Harrogate, found that patients with higher levels of Vitamin D had a better prognosis, with improved wound healing, fewer complications, and less scarring.

The data also showed that burns patients tend to have lower levels of Vitamin D.

These data suggest that Vitamin D supplementation immediately following burn injury may have potent health benefits to the patient, including enhanced antimicrobial activity to prevent infection, and improved wound healing, the researchers noted.