According to a recent study, Vitamin D deficiency may significantly enhance a person’s risk of developing asthma.
The annually U.S. national health survey run between 2001 and 2010 collected and analyzed data from over 9,700 children between 6 to 17, and 25,000 adults between the ages of 18 and 79. The survey respondents were asked if they had experienced any asthmatic conditions such as wheezing or been diagnosed with asthma over the past year. A blood test for Vitamin D levels was also part of the study.
The results of the study established that 70 percent of the adults and 68 percent of the children had less than the recommended levels of Vitamin D (30 nanograms per milliliter) in their blood. Moreover, 1800 adults and 1200 children had an asthma diagnosis. Asthma makes breathing difficult by narrowing and inflaming the air passageways, which causes the classic wheezing symptoms.
Children established to have Vitamin D insufficiency, were 1.35 times more likely to be diagnosed with asthma than children with healthy levels of Vitamin D. On the other hand, adults that had Vitamin D insufficiency while not necessarily at risk for being diagnosed with asthma, were still more likely to have experienced some wheezing during the previous year, as compared to persons with healthy levels of Vitamin D.
While the link between these two is clear, it has yet to explain why Vitamin D is highly correlated with incidences of asthma. However, research assistant professor Yueh-Ying Han of the University Of Pittsburgh School Of Medicine specializing in immunology, allergy, and pulmonary medicine, presented findings that show that Vitamin D is responsible for reducing inflammation. The new findings were presented at the American Public Health Association meeting in Denver. Speaking to Live Science Han also asserted that it is possible that Vitamin D makes people respond better to asthma medications.
The researchers also established that Vitamin D insufficiency levels in the population dropped from 75% in 2001 to approximately 66% in 2010. During the same period, asthma prevalence was down from 8.2% between 2007 and 2008 to 7.4% between 2009 and 2010.
The findings confirm previous research studies that established a correlation between asthma and Vitamin D levels. For instance, according to some studies, mothers with higher Vitamin D consumption levels during pregnancy tended to have children that had lower asthma risk as compared to those that had lower Vitamin D consumption levels. Other studies also confirmed that asthmatic children tended to have worse manifestation of symptoms as compared to children with higher levels.
Nonetheless, given that the research focus was on a singular point in time, it cannot conclusively prove that asthma is directly correlated to Vitamin D insufficiency. Dr. Han believes that there is a need for more studies to confirm if Vitamin D supplementation in asthmatic children could result in a significant reduction of their symptoms.
As a matter of fact, a study currently underway is testing the effectiveness of Vitamin D supplements in reducing hospital visits and asthma attacks in asthmatic children. The asthmatic children take either a placebo or Vitamin Supplement every day.
In fact, a new review study that came out in September showed that asthmatic attacks among children and adults significantly reduced when they were on Vitamin supplements. Nonetheless, there was no conclusive evidence that the daily symptoms of asthma had any significant improvements.
According to Dr. Han, it is critical to remember that while there is a correlation between Vitamin D and asthma, you should not use it to replace your current asthma therapy. Nonetheless, given the relative safety and convenience of Vitamin D supplements, they could be good for general health of r for persons with Vitamin D insufficiency.