Vitamin D Status, Lung Function and Atopy in Children with Asthma

Objective: To determine the associations between serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D3 levels and pulmonary function test outcomes and atopy in children with asthma. Study Design: Cross-sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: Pediatric pulmonology outpatient clinic and pediatric outpatient clinic, from December 2012 to March 2013. Methodology: A total of 71 asthmatic children and 77 healthy controls aged 7-17 years were recruited. Vitamin D status was assessed by measuring the serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D3 levels and compared between two groups. The relationship between serum vitamin D levels and pulmonary function test outcomes and serum IgE levels and inhalant panels were also examined in asthmatic patients. Results: The serum levels of 25-hydroxy vitamin D3 were low in both the asthmatic and control participants (median = 11.8 and 9.8 ng/ml, respectively). Vitamin D levels were significantly low in the patients who had high IgE levels and high levels of specific IgE antibodies against inhalant allergens in asthmatic patients. No correlation was found between vitamin D levels and pulmonary function test outcomes in asthmatic patients (p> 0.05). Conclusion: Vitamin D levels are not associated with pulmonary function test outcomes. However, low vitamin D levels are associated with atopy.