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. 2018 Feb;97(7):e9830.
doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000009830.

Serum levels of vitamin A and 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 (25OHD3) as reflectors of pulmonary function and quality of life (QOL) in children with stable asthma: A case-control study

Ya-Jie Bai  1 , Ru-Jun Dai
Affiliations

Serum levels of vitamin A and 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 (25OHD3) as reflectors of pulmonary function and quality of life (QOL) in children with stable asthma: A case-control study

Ya-Jie Bai et al. Medicine (Baltimore). 2018 Feb.

Abstract

Background: This study aims to explore the relationship between serum vitamin A and 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 (25OHD3) levels with pulmonary function and quality of life (QOL) in children with stable asthma.

Methods: A total of 117 cases of children with stable asthma were assigned into the case group and 129 healthy children underwent physical examination during the same period into the control group. Electrochemiluminescence was employed to determine serum vitamin A and 25OHD3 levels. The children with stable asthma were further divided into the mild, moderate, and severe groups according to their degree of asthma. A pulmonary function meter was used to assess the pulmonary function indexes: percentage of forced expiratory volume in 1 sec/predictive value (FEV1%pred), forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in 1 sec/forced vital capacity (FEV1/FVC), peak expiratory flow (PEF), and maximal voluntary ventilation (MVV). The children's quality (QOL) of life with asthma was evaluated by their activities of daily living (ADLs) and Medical Research Council (MRC) scores. Pearson correlation analysis was applied to analyze the correlations of serum vitamin A and 25OHD3 levels with FEV1%pred, FVC, FEV1/FVC, PEF, MVV, ADL, and MRC.

Results: Serum vitamin A and 25OHD3 levels were lower in children with stable asthma than those who were in the control group (P < .05). The severe group showed the lowest FEV1%pred, FVC, FEV1/FVC, PEF, MVV, and ADL scores, and the highest MRC score compared to the mild and moderate groups (all P < .05). Serum vitamin A and 25OHD3 levels were positively correlated with pulmonary function and ADL score in children with stable asthma, while serum vitamin A and 25OHD3 levels were negatively correlated with MRC score (all P < .05). In the case group, serum vitamin A and 25OHD3 levels were positively correlated with serum calcium and phosphorus levels (all P < .05).

Conclusion: These findings indicate that increased serum vitamin A and 25OHD3 levels reflect good pulmonary function and good QOL in children with stable asthma.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Serum vitamin A and 25OHD3 levels between the case group and the control group. Notes: ∗, compared with the control group, P < .05; #, compared with the mild group, P < .05; and &, compared with the severe group, P < .05; 25OHD3 = 25-hydroxyvitamin D3.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Serum vitamin A and 25OHD3 levels with serum calcium and phosphorus levels. (A) Correlation between serum vitamin A and serum calcium levels; (B) correlation between serum vitamin A and serum phosphorus levels; (C) correlation between 25OHD3 and serum calcium levels; and (D) correlation between 25OHD3 and serum phosphorus levels. 25OHD3 = 25-hydroxyvitamin D3.
Figure 3
Figure 3
The serum vitamin A and 25OHD3 levels with pulmonary function and QOL. (A) Correlation of vitamin A with pulmonary function and quality of life; (B) correlation of 25OHD3 with pulmonary function and quality of life. ADL = activity of daily living, FEV1%pred = percentage of forced expiratory volume in 1 sec/predictive value, FVC = forced vital capacity, MRC = Medical Research Council, MVV = maximal voluntary ventilation, 25OHD3 = 25-hydroxyvitamin D3, PEF = peak expiratory flow, QOL = quality of life.
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