Severity of adult asthma associated with less vitamin D – Feb 2013

Severe and uncontrolled adult asthma is associated with vitamin D insufficiency and deficiency

Respiratory Research 2013, 14:25 doi:10.1186/1465-9921-14-25; Published: 22 February 2013
Stephanie Korn, Marisa Hübner, Matthias Jung, Maria Blettner and Roland Buhl

Vitamin D has effects on the innate and adaptive immune system. In asthmatic children low vitamin D levels are associated with poor asthma control, reduced lung function, increased medication intake, and exacerbations. Little is known about vitamin D in adult asthma patients or its association with asthma severity and control.

Methods: Clinical parameters of asthma control and 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) serum concentrations were evaluated in 280 adult asthma patients (mean +/- SD: 45.0 +/- 13.8 yrs., 40% male, FEV1 74.9 +/- 23.4%, 55% severe, 51% uncontrolled).

Results: 25(OH)D concentrations in adult asthmatics were low (25.6 +/-11.8 ng/ml) and vitamin D insufficiency or deficiency (vitamin D <30 ng/ml) was common (67%). 25(OH)D levels were related to asthma severity (intermittent: 31.1 +/- 13.0 ng/ml, mild: 27.3 +/- 11.9 ng/ml, moderate: 26.5 +/- 12.0 ng/ml, severe: 24.0 +/- 11.8 ng/ml, p = 0.046) and control (controlled: 29.5 +/- 12.5 ng/ml, partly controlled 25.9 +/- 10.8 ng/ml, uncontrolled: 24.2 +/- 11.8 ng/ml, p = 0.030). The frequency of vitamin D insufficiency or deficiency was significantly higher in patients with severe or uncontrolled asthma and was associated with a lower FEV1 (vitamin D <30 vs. >=30 ng/ml 2.3 +/- 0.9 L vs. 2.7 +/- 1.0 L, p = 0.006), higher levels of exhaled NO (45 +/- 46 ppb vs. 31 +/- 37 ppb, p = 0.023), a higher BMI (28.3 +/- 6.2 vs. 25.1 +/- 3.9, p < 0.001), and sputum eosinophilia (5.1 +/- 11.8% vs. 0.5 +/- 1.0%, p = 0.005). The use of oral corticosteroids or sputum eosinophilia was associated with a 20% or 40% higher risk of vitamin D insufficiency or deficiency.

Conclusions: 25(OH)D levels below 30 ng/ml are common in adult asthma and most pronounced in patients with severe and/or uncontrolled asthma, supporting the hypothesis that improving suboptimal vitamin D status might be effective in prevention and treatment of asthma.
Asthma Severity @ is.gd/8GyQfb

Asthma Control @ is.gd/8GyQfb


PDF is attached at the bottom of this page

See also VitaminDWiki

Breathing category starts with the following

445 items in Breathing category

Breathing-related Overviews at VitaminDWiki:
Allergy   Lung Cancer   TB   Asthma  Influenza  Colds and flu
Pneumonia   Respiratory infections   COPD   Air Polution   Smoking   Cystic Fibrosis

See also web

  • Review of this study Vitamin D Council March 2013
    300 million people with asthma around the world, about 250,000 asthma deaths annually - 2011
    adult asthma is about 50% more common among African Americans than Caucasian Americans
    The mean vitamin D levels in asthma patients were the same as controls
       lower vitamin D levels only exacerbate the disease in those already prone to get it


short url = http://is.gd/8GyQfb

8415 visitors, last modified 08 Jan, 2017,
Printer Friendly Follow this page for updates