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. 2011 Oct;3(4):251-5.
doi: 10.4168/aair.2011.3.4.251. Epub 2011 Jul 13.

The relationship between serum 25 hydroxy vitamin d levels and asthma in children

Soheila Alyasin  1 , Tooba Momen, Sara Kashef, Abbass Alipour, Reza Amin
Affiliations

The relationship between serum 25 hydroxy vitamin d levels and asthma in children

Soheila Alyasin et al. Allergy Asthma Immunol Res. 2011 Oct.

Abstract

Purpose: Asthma and other allergic disorders have increased over the past decades in nearly all nations. Many studies have suggested the role of vitamin D deficiency in both T-helper1 and T-helper2 diseases; however, the association between vitamin D, allergy, and asthma remains uncertain. In this study, the associations of 25-hydroxy vitamin D3 levels with asthma and with the severity of asthma were evaluated.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 50 asthmatic children and 50 healthy controls aged 6-18 years. Serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D3 levels were determined and compared between the two groups. The relationship between serum vitamin D levels and pulmonary function test outcomes and eosinophil counts were examined in asthmatic patients.

Results: Univariate analysis of the relationship between asthma and vitamin D showed that decreased vitamin D levels were associated with significantly increased odds of asthmatic state (P=0.002). In a multivariate analysis after adjustment for age, body mass index, and sex, the relationship between vitamin D and asthma increased. In asthmatic patients, 25-hydroxy vitamin D levels had direct and significant correlations with both predicted FEV1 (R(2)=0.318; P=0.024) and FEV1/FVC (R(2)=0.315; P=0.026). There were no associations between vitamin D level and eosinophil counts, duration of disease, and the number of hospitalization or unscheduled visits in the previous year (P>0.05).

Conclusions: These results showed that serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D levels were inversely associated with asthma, and there was a direct and significant relationship between vitamin D levels and pulmonary function test outcomes in asthmatic children. An interventional study in asthmatic patients with low serum vitamin D concentration may establish a causal relationship between asthma and vitamin D.

Keywords: Asthma; allergy; vitamin D.

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Conflict of interest statement

There are no financial or other issues that might lead to conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure
Figure
Correlation between vitamin D levels and predicted FEV1.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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