Vitamin D serum levels and risk of asthma in children

Min Jung You; Woo Kyung Kim

doi:10.4168/aard.2016.4.1.44

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You and Kim: Vitamin D serum levels and risk of asthma in children

Original Article

Allergy, Asthma & Respiratory Disease 2016; 4(1): 44-48.

Published online: 29 January 2016

DOI: https://doi.org/10.4168/aard.2016.4.1.44

Vitamin D serum levels and risk of asthma in children

Min Jung You¹, Woo Kyung Kim^2,³

¹Department of Pediatrics, Inje University Sanggyae Paik Hospital, Seoul, Korea.

²Department of Pediatrics, Inje University Seoul Paik Hospital, Seoul, Korea.

³Allergy and Respiratory Research Laboratory, Inje University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.

Correspondence to: Woo Kyung Kim. Department of Pediatrics, Inje University Seoul Paik Hospital, Inje University College of Medicine, 9 Mareunnae-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul 04551, Korea. Tel: +82-2-2270-0157, Fax: +82-2-2270-0264, j3176@paik.ac.kr

Received 19 June 2015 Revised 22 September 2015 Accepted 25 September 2015

(open-access):

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/).

Abstract

Purpose

The role of vitamin D in traditional atopic disorders (i.e., asthma, allergic rhinitis, and atopic dermatitis) is still uncertain. We have analyzed the association between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D₃ (25(OH)-D₃) levels and asthma in children.

Methods

A total of 133 children were enrolled between April 2008 and December of 2008. Children were divided into 3 groups: the asthma group (n=80), bronchiolitis group (n=50), and normal group (n=35). Serum samples were collected and checked for 25(OH)-D₃ levels. From the blood samples, we measured eosinophil counts, total IgE, specific IgE (Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, Dermatophagoides farinae, milk, egg, cat, dog, cockroach) (Uni-CAP FEIA system).

Results

The mean age of the patients was 4.6 years. The mean 25(OH)-D₃ levels of the asthma, bronchiolitis, and normal groups were 17.2±8.9, 22.5±9.3, and 27.8±10.2 ng/mL, respectively (P<0.01). There was no association between allergens and vitamin D levels. Mean 25(OH)-D₃ levels were lower at acute state of asthma than at stable state.

Conclusion

The mean level of 25(OH)-D₃ was associated with asthma and acute state of asthma. Further experimental and clinical studies are needed to establish a definite link between vitamin D levels and asthma.

Keywords: Vitamin D, Asthma, Bronchiolitis

Figures and Tables

Fig. 1

The box plot of serum vitamin D levels in asthma states. 25(OH)-D₃, 25-hydroxyvitamin D₃.

Table 1

Characteristics of study participants

Characteristic	Normal (n = 35)	Asthma (n = 80)	Bronchilolitis (n = 50)
Age (yr)	4.51 ± 2.63	5.45 ± 1.56	2.91 ± 1.89
Sex
Boy:girl	19:16	41:39	27:23
Family history
Both (-)	35	23	46
Both (+)	0	5	0
Either (+)	0	52	4
Combined allergy disease
Only asthma	-	54 (67.5)	-
With AD	-	3 (3.7)	-
With AR	-	23 (28.8)	-

Values are presented as mean±standard deviation or number (%).

AD, atopic dermatitis; AR, allergic rhinitis.

Table 2

Serum level of groups characteristics

Variable	Normal (n=35)	Asthma (n=80)	Bronchilolitis (n=50)	P-value
WBC (/mm³)	9,413.1 ± 3,034.5	9,831.1 ± 3,370.6	10,489.6 ± 4,113.1	0.436
Eosinophil (/mm³)	22.9 ± 10.2	367.5 ± 182.0	66.2 ± 49.3	< 0.01
Total IgE (IU/mL)	35.8 ± 3.1	496.6 ± 174.2	75.6 ± 15.2	< 0.01
CAP positive	0	100	15	-
D. farinae	-	97.3	10.2	-
D. pteronyssinus	-	98.2	3.6	-
Milk	-	1.2	0	-
Egg	-	0.9	0	-
Cat	-	9.2	0	-
Dog	-	2.5	0	-
Cockroach	-	0.8	0	-

Values are presented as mean±standard deviation or percentage.

WBC, white blood cell; D. farinae, Dermatophagoides farina; D. pteronyssinus, Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus.

Table 3

25-hydroxyvitamin D₃ (25(OH)-D₃) levels in the study subjects

	Normal (n=35)	Asthma (n=80)	Bronchilolitis (n=50)	P-value
25(OH)-D₃ (ng/mL)	27.8±10.2	17.2±8.9	22.5±9.3
Sufficient (≥30)	34	5	43	-
Insufficient (20-29.9)	1	63	6	-
Deficient (<20)	0	12	1	-

Values are presented as mean±standard deviation.

Notes

This work was supported by 2008 Inje University Academic Research costs.

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ORCID iDs: Woo Kyung Kim
https://orcid.org/http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8730-010X
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Vitamin D serum levels and risk of asthma in children

Abstract

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusion

Figures and Tables

Fig. 1

The box plot of serum vitamin D levels in asthma states. 25(OH)-D3, 25-hydroxyvitamin D3.

Table 1

Characteristics of study participants

Table 2

Serum level of groups characteristics

Table 3

25-hydroxyvitamin D3 (25(OH)-D3) levels in the study subjects

Notes

References

The box plot of serum vitamin D levels in asthma states. 25(OH)-D₃, 25-hydroxyvitamin D₃.

25-hydroxyvitamin D₃ (25(OH)-D₃) levels in the study subjects