Vitamin D Linked to Asthma Severity
Published : 2009-04-23
Author : American Thoracic Society
Synopsis* : New research provides evidence for a link between vitamin D insufficiency and asthma severity.
Main Digest
New research provides evidence for a link between vitamin D insufficiency and asthma severity. Serum levels of vitamin D in more than 600 Costa Rican children were inversely linked to several indicators of allergy and asthma severity, including hospitalizations for asthma, use of inhaled steroids and total IgE levels.New research provides evidence for a link between vitamin D insufficiency and asthma severity.
Serum levels of vitamin D in more than 600 Costa Rican children were inversely linked to several indicators of allergy and asthma severity, including hospitalizations for asthma, use of inhaled steroids and total IgE levels, according to a study that will appear in the first issue for May of the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.
While previous in vitro studies have suggested that vitamin D may affect how airway cells respond to treatment with inhaled steroids, this is the first in vivo study of vitamin D and disease severity in children with asthma.
Juan Celedon, M.D., Dr. P.H. and Augusto Litonjua, M.D., M.P.H. of Harvard Medical School and colleagues recruited 616 children with asthma living in the Central Valley of Costa Rica, a country known to have a high prevalence of asthma. Each child was assessed for allergic markers, including both allergen-specific and general sensitivity tests, and assessed for lung function and circulating vitamin D levels. Children whose forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) exceeded 65 percent of the predicted value were also tested for airway reactivity.
They found that children with lower vitamin D levels were significantly more likely to have been hospitalized for asthma in the previous year, tended to have airways with increased hyper-reactivity and were likely to have used more inhaled corticosteroids, all signifying higher asthma severity. These children were also significantly more likely to have several markers of allergy, including dust-mite sensitivity.
"To our knowledge this is the first study to demonstrate an inverse association between circulating levels of vitamin D and markers of asthma severity and allergy," wrote Drs. Celedon and Litonjua "While it is difficult to establish causation in a cross-sectional study such as this, the results were robust even after controlling for markers of baseline asthma severity."
"This study suggests that there may be added health benefits to vitamin D supplementation" said Dr. Celedon. Current recommendations for optimal vitamin D levels geared toward preserving bone health, such as preventing rickets in children and osteoporosis in adults.
"This study also provides epidemiological support for a growing body of in vitro evidence that vitamin D insufficiency may worsen asthma severity, and we suspect that giving vitamin D supplements to asthma patients who are deficient may help with their asthma control" wrote Drs. Celedon and Litonjua, noting that a clinical trial should be the next step in this research. "Whether vitamin D supplementation can prevent the development of asthma in very young children is a separate question, which will be answered by clinical trials that are getting under way," he said.
A complication is that vitamin D, unlike most other nutrients, is primarily synthesized in the body rather than consumed. Because about 90 percent of circulating vitamin D is produced by the body in response to sun exposure, deficiency is often related to behavioral issues rather than an inadequate dietary intake. Increased time spent indoors, increased use of sunscreen and sun-protective clothing all lead to decreased levels of vitamin D. Dietary sources of vitamin D, primarily fortified foods and fatty fish or fish oils, and vitamin D in current multivitamin preparations are unlikely to make up the deficiency.
"Ultimately, it is only by investigating the effects of vitamin D in doses at, and above, those currently recommended that decisions can be made on the optimal intake of vitamin D and the possible prevention and treatment of asthma," wrote Graham Devereux, M.D., of the Department of Environmental and Occupational Medicine at the University of Aberdeen in the accompanying editorial in the same issue of the journal.
You're reading Disabled World. Be sure to check out our homepage for further informative disability news, reviews, disability sports events, exclusive stories and how-tos. You can also find us on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.
Related Asthma Documents
- 1 - Vaccinating Pre-schoolers with Asthma Against the Flu : Research finds vaccinating asthmatic pre-schoolers against the flu could dramatically reduce their risk of being hospitalized after an asthma attack.
- 2 - Asthma Costs US Economy Over $80 Billion a Year : Research shows Asthma costs the U.S. economy more than $80 billion annually in medical expenses, missed work and school days and deaths.
- 3 - Neu5Gc: Farm Cats and Cows Protect Children From Allergies and Asthma : Microbes that occur in higher amounts and greater diversity on farms help protect farm children from allergies and asthma.
- 4 - Climate Change May Increase ER Visits for Allergy Related Asthma : Research reveals people with oak pollen allergies, particularly children, will have longer exposure to pollen that can induce allergic asthma.
- 5 - Link Between Plastic Exposure, Allergies, and Asthma in Children : Researchers are reporting an association between phthalate exposure, asthma and allergies in children.
*Disclaimer: Disabled World provides general information only. Materials presented are in no way meant to be a substitute for professional medical care by a qualified practitioner, nor should they be construed as such. Any 3rd party offering or advertising on disabled-world.com does not constitute endorsement by Disabled World. View our Advertising Policy for further information. Please report outdated or inaccurate information to us.
Cite Page: Journal: Disabled World. Language: English (U.S.). Author: American Thoracic Society. Electronic Publication Date: 2009-04-23. Title: Vitamin D Linked to Asthma Severity, Source: <a href=https://www.disabled-world.com/health/respiratory/asthma/vitamin-d-asthma.php>Vitamin D Linked to Asthma Severity</a>. Retrieved 2021-05-07, from https://www.disabled-world.com/health/respiratory/asthma/vitamin-d-asthma.php - Reference: DW#172-1537.