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. 2021 Oct 28;58(4):2100989.
doi: 10.1183/13993003.00989-2021. Print 2021 Oct.

Vitamin D supplementation, lung function and asthma control in children with asthma and low vitamin D levels

Yueh-Ying Han  1 , Erick Forno  1 , Leonard B Bacharier  2 , Wanda Phipatanakul  3 , Theresa W Guilbert  4 , Michael D Cabana  5 , Kristie Ross  6 , Joshua Blatter  7 , Franziska J Rosser  1 , Sandy Durrani  4 , James Luther  8 , Stephen R Wisniewski  8 , Juan C Celedón  9
Affiliations

Vitamin D supplementation, lung function and asthma control in children with asthma and low vitamin D levels

Yueh-Ying Han et al. Eur Respir J. .

Abstract

Observational studies have shown that low vitamin D levels are linked to worse lung function and poor asthma control in children with asthma. We hypothesized that vitamin D supplementation would improve function, disease control, and quality of life in children with asthma (ages 6–16 years) and vitamin D levels below 30 ng/ml. We tested this hypothesis in a secondary analysis of data from the Vitamin D Kids Asthma Study (VDKA), a randomized, double-blind, parallel, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Each participant in the VDKA was randomly assigned to either daily placebo capsules or daily vitamin D3 (4,000 IU) plus low-dose inhaled fluticasone propionate. Of the 192 randomized participants, 176 were included in the analysis of change in percent predicted lung function measures (FEV1, FVC, and FEV1/FVC) and asthma control scores. Of these 176 participants, 94 were also included in the analysis of change in asthma-related quality of life scores, as they were 10 years and older. Linear regression was used for the multivariable analysis of vitamin D supplementation and each outcome, which was adjusted for study site, race, sex, and time in the study. In this analysis, vitamin D supplementation was not significantly associated with change in any outcome (lung function measures, asthma control, or asthma-related quality of life) between the randomization and exit visits. Our results do not support recommending vitamin D supplementation to improve lung function, asthma control, or asthma-related quality of life in children with asthma and vitamin D levels below 30 ng/ml.

Trial registration: clinicaltrials.gov identifier: NCT02687815

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of interest: Y-Y. Han has nothing to disclose. Conflict of interest: E. Forno has nothing to disclose. Conflict of interest: L.B. Bacharier has nothing to disclose. Conflict of interest: W. Phipatanakul reports personal fees for consultancy from GSK, Genentech, Novartis, Regeneron, Sanofi and Teva, grants from Genentech, Novartis, Regeneron, Sanofi, Circassia, Monaghen, Thermo Fisher, Alk Abello, Lincoln Diagnostics, GSK, Kaleo and Merck, institutional grants from Genentech, Regeneron, Novartis and the US NIH, outside the submitted work. Conflict of interest: T.W. Guilbert reports personal fees for consultancy from American Board of Pediatrics (Pediatric Pulmonary Sub-board), GSK, TEVA and Sanofi/Regeneron, grants from AstraZeneca, Novartis and Sanofi/Regeneron, non-financial support from Up To Date, outside the submitted work. Conflict of interest: M.D. Cabana is a member of the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), outside the submitted work. Conflict of interest: K. Ross has nothing to disclose. Conflict of interest: J. Blatter has nothing to disclose. Conflict of interest: F.J. Rosser has nothing to disclose. Conflict of interest: S. Durrani has nothing to disclose. Conflict of interest: J. Luther has nothing to disclose. Conflict of interest: S.R. Wisniewski has nothing to disclose. Conflict of interest: J.C. Celedón reports non-financial support (study medication) from Pharmavite and GSK, during the conduct of the study; non-financial support (study medication) from Merck, outside the submitted work.

References

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