Low maternal vitamin D level at 4 months associated with 3X more lung problems in boys

Vitamin D deficiency at 16 to 20 weeks' gestation is associated with impaired lung function and asthma at 6 years of age.

Ann Am Thorac Soc. 2014 May;11(4):571-7. doi: 10.1513/AnnalsATS.201312-423OC.

Zosky GR1, Hart PH, Whitehouse AJ, Kusel MM, Ang W, Foong RE, Chen L, Holt PG, Sly PD, Hall GL.

School of Medicine, University of Tasmania, Tasmania, Australia.

* Yet another reason to increase vitamin D levels as soon as possible during pregnancy * Vitamin D loading doses will achieve a good level in days, rather than seasons. See also VitaminDWiki * Maternal vitamin D: slight differences between daily vs single doses – RCT Dec 2013 * Children born of mothers with low vitamin D at 18 weeks had 4 health problems – Dec 2014 * Overview Pregnancy and vitamin D has the following summary {include} Click on chart for details

RATIONALE:

Vitamin D deficiency is associated with chronic lung disease. We have previously shown in an in vivo mouse model that maternal vitamin D deficiency is associated with alterations in early life lung structure and function. However, there are limited data to support a relationship between maternal vitamin D deficiency during the early stages of lung development and postnatal lung function in human populations.

OBJECTIVES:

To assess the association between maternal vitamin D deficiency, postnatal lung function, and asthmatic status in a longitudinal birth cohort.

METHODS:

Serum was collected at 16 to 20 weeks' gestation at the time of recruitment in a community-based prospective birth cohort for measurement of vitamin D (25[OH]D). Lung function was assessed by spirometry according to American Thoracic Society guidelines in children at 6 and 14 years of age. Demographic and clinical history data were collected by questionnaire at recruitment and at the follow-up visits.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS:

FVC Z-scores in both sexes (β, 0.007 [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.001-0.013]; P = 0.02) and FEV1 Z-scores in girls (β, 0.007 [95% CI, 0.001-0.013]; P = 0.02) were positively associated with maternal serum 25(OH)D at 6 years of age. These associations were mostly absent at 14 years of age. Maternal vitamin D deficiency was positively associated with asthma at 6 years of age but only in boys (odds ratio, 3.03 [95% CI, 1.02-9.02]; P = 0.04).

CONCLUSIONS:

This study supports the notion that vitamin D deficiency during lung development may impact on postnatal lung growth and increase the risk of developing lung disease.

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