Vitamin D levels and vitamin D receptor gene polymorphisms in asthmatic children: a case–control study1. Issue 6 (17th June 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Einisman, Helly; Reyes, María Loreto; Angulo, Jenniffer; Cerda, Jaime; López‐Lastra, Marcelo; Castro‐Rodriguez, Jose A.
• Is Part Of: Pediatric allergy and immunology. Volume 26:Issue 6(2015)
• Page Start: 545
• Page End: 550
• Publication Date: 2015-06-17
• Subjects: Allergy in children -- Periodicals; Immunologic diseases in children -- Periodicals; 617
• DOI: 10.1111/pai.12409
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0905-6157

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="pai12409-abs-0001"> <title>Abstract</title> <sec id="pai12409-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Background</title> <p>Vitamin D deficiency and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) in the gene encoding vitamin D receptor (VDR) have been associated with asthma.</p> </sec> <sec id="pai12409-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Objective</title> <p>To compare 25‐hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) levels and the frequency of 3 SNPs in the VDR gene between asthmatic and healthy children.</p> </sec> <sec id="pai12409-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Methods</title> <p>In persistent asthmatic and healthy control children, the 25OHD levels were measured using radioimmunoassay and SNPs (FokI, ApaI, and TaqI) were analyzed by a PCR<italic>‐</italic>RFLP assay. Relevant medical history was collected.</p> </sec> <sec id="pai12409-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p>About 75 asthmatic (median age: 9.1 years) and 227 healthy children (10.3 years) were studied. In the whole population, the proportion of sufficient, insufficient, and deficient levels of 25OHD were 14.9%, 44%, and 41.1%, respectively. 25OHD sufficiency status was similar in asthmatic and healthy children (p = 0.57). However, the proportion of 25OHD sufficient levels among asthmatics according to the Global Initiative for Asthma treatment steps 2, 3, and 4 was significantly different (8.6%, 16.6%, and 43.7%, respectively<italic>, </italic> p = 0.046). All patients on step 4 of the treatment (16/16) were heterozygous for the C allele (FokI VDR SNP). There was a lower presence of the C allele among asthmatics in step 2 (30/33), step 3 (16/24), and controls (45/50), p = 0.007, but this significance did not persist after logistic regression. No significant differences in ApaI and TaqI were found.</p> </sec> <sec id="pai12409-sec-0005" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusions</title> <p>We found a possible association of vitamin D sufficiency status and FokI C allele with higher requirement of therapy to reach asthma control, suggesting that it may be involved in treatment response. Variations in VDR might also play a role in the 25OHD levels.</p> </sec> </abstract>