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. 2011;81(6):469-75.
doi: 10.1159/000322008. Epub 2010 Dec 1.

Vitamin D deficiency is associated with decreased lung function in Chinese adults with asthma

Fei Li  1 , Min Peng, Lei Jiang, Qi Sun, Kui Zhang, Fuzhi Lian, Augusto A Litonjua, Jinming Gao, Xiang Gao
Affiliations

Vitamin D deficiency is associated with decreased lung function in Chinese adults with asthma

Fei Li et al. Respiration. 2011.

Abstract

Background: Vitamin D deficiency has been associated with markers for allergy and asthma severity in children with asthma. However, its association with Chinese adult asthmatics has not been studied.

Objective: To examine whether vitamin D status is associated with lung function and total serum IgE in Chinese adults with newly diagnosed asthma.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study including 435 Chinese patients aged >18 years with newly diagnosed asthma. Vitamin D status was assessed by measuring serum 25 hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) concentrations. The primary outcomes included airflow limitation, as measured by the forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV(1)), FEV(1) % predicted, and FEV(1)/forced vital capacity (FVC), and serum total IgE concentration.

Results: Vitamin D deficiency was prevalent in Chinese adults with asthma, with 88.9% of the subjects having 25OHD <50 nmol/l. Serum 25OHD concentration was positively correlated with FEV(1) % predicted (p = 0.02, r = 0.12). After adjusting for age, sex, body mass index, smoking, month of blood collection, and symptom duration, we found significant positive associations between 25OHD concentrations and FEV(1) (in liters), FEV(1) % predicted, and FEV(1)/FVC (p for trend < 0.05 for all). The adjusted odds ratios for the highest versus the lowest 25OHD quartile were 0.50 (0.26-0.96) for FEV(1) <75% predicted and 0.44 (0.20-0.95) for FEV(1)/FVC% <0.75. There was no significant association between 25OHD concentrations and total IgE.

Conclusions: Vitamin D deficiency was highly prevalent in Chinese asthma patients, and vitamin D status was associated with lung function.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Plot of a linear association between log-transformed serum 25OHD (nmol/l) concentrations and FEV1 % predicted (%) (p = 0.02, adjusted r = 0.12). Linear trends were tested for significance by regressing log-transformed 25OHD levels on FEV1 % predicted, with adjustment for age (years), sex, BMI (<23, 23–26.9, or ≥27), smoking (current, former, or never), season of blood collection, disease duration (years), and other confounders.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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