The effect of vitamin D on airway reactivity and inflammation in asthmatic children: A double‐blind placebo‐controlled trial. Issue 8 (2nd July 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Bar Yoseph, Ronen; Livnat, Galit; Schnapp, Zeev; Hakim, Fahed; Dabbah, Husein; Goldbart, Aviv; Bentur, Lea
• Is Part Of: Pediatric pulmonology. Volume 50:Issue 8(2015:Aug.)
• Page Start: 747
• Page End: 753
• Publication Date: 2014-07-02
• Subjects: Pediatric respiratory diseases -- Periodicals; Pediatrics -- Periodicals; 618.922
• DOI: 10.1002/ppul.23076
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 8755-6863

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" xml:lang="en"> <title>Summary</title> <sec id="ppul23076-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Background</title> <p>Cross‐sectional studies have reported an association of vitamin D deficiency with increased asthma prevalence and severity, and with allergies. The effect of vitamin D as sole therapy on airway hyper‐reactivity (AHR) and airway inflammation has not been reported.</p> </sec> <sec id="ppul23076-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Aim</title> <p>To evaluate the effect of vitamin D therapy on AHR as assessed by methacholine concentration, causing a 20% reduction in FEV1 (PC<sub>20</sub>‐FEV<sub>1</sub>) and fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO), systemic markers of allergy and inflammation, and exhaled breath condensate cytokines.</p> </sec> <sec id="ppul23076-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Patients and Methods</title> <p>Children aged 6–18 years with a clinical diagnosis of mild asthma currently not receiving anti‐inflammatory therapy and with low vitamin D levels were included in this randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled study assessing the effect of 6 weeks of treatment with oral vitamin D 14, 000 units once weekly or placebo.</p> </sec> <sec id="ppul23076-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p>Of the 39 patients included, 20 received vitamin D treatment and 19 received a placebo. Vitamin D replacement resulted in a significant increase in vitamin levels, which remained unchanged in the placebo group (<italic>P</italic> < 0.0001). There was no change in IgE, eosinophil count, high sensitivity C‐reactive protein, FeNO levels or PC<sub>20</sub>‐FEV<sub>1</sub> following treatment. Similar values of exhaled breath condensate cytokines (IL4, IL5, IL10, IL17, and γ interferon) were observed in both groups.</p> </sec> <sec id="ppul23076-sec-0005" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusions</title> <p>In our small group of children with mild asthma, no difference could be demonstrated between the effect of vitamin D and placebo, despite significant increases in vitamin D blood levels. Larger interventional studies are needed to fully explore the possible effect of vitamin D in asthma. <bold>Pediatr Pulmonol. 2015; 50:747–753.</bold> © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.</p> </sec> </abstract>