Asthma severity in kids linked to low vitamin D
20 September 2011
Detecting and treating low vitamin D levels may be of benefit to children with severe asthma that does not respond to treatment, researchers say.
A UK study shows that children with severe asthma have lower vitamin D levels than those with moderate asthma (American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine 2011, online 15 Sep).
The reduced vitamin D levels were associated with poorer lung function, poor asthma control, increased medicine use and exacerbations (episodes of worsening asthma symptoms).
Blood vitamin D was measured in 86 children aged around 11 years, showing for the first time that those with severe, treatment-resistant asthma had lower vitamin D levels (22–38 nmol/L) than those with moderate asthma (29–63 nmol/L) or children with no asthma (45–67 nmol/L).
Respiratory expert Professor Peter Sly, deputy director of the Queensland Children’s Medical Research Institute, said further research was needed to determine whether vitamin D deficiency was a cause, or an effect, of asthma.
"We do have problems with vitamin D deficiency in Australia so assessing and supplementing when it is found to be deficient is a good thing," he said.
Last Reviewed: 23 September 2011
- 1. Gupta A, Sjoukes A, Richards D, et al. Relationship between serum vitamin D, disease severity and airway remodeling in children with asthma. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2011; Sep 15. [Epub ahead of print]. doi:10.1164/rccm.201107-1239OC. http://ajrccm.atsjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/201107-1239OCv2 (accessed Sep 2011).
