Abstract
Background
Vitamin D is increasingly being linked to asthma. Higher Vitamin D levels are associated with decreased airway hyperresponsiveness and decreased inflammatory markers. Low levels of vitamin D may be associated with poor asthma control and increased severity.
Aims
To evaluate Vitamin D levels in asthma and the effect of Vitamin D supplementation on severity and control of asthma.
Methods
Forty two subjects of asthma were recruited. The Asthma Control Test (ACT) score was calculated. Vitamin D was estimated by enhanced chemiluminiscence method. Subjects were randomly assigned to the Study group and Control group. The study group received standard therapy along with oral vitamin D (1000 IU) for 8 weeks. Control group received standard medications only. ACT scores and Vitamin D levels were reassessed at the end of study.
Results
The mean Vitamin D in study group was 18.16 ± 5.32ng/ml which improved to 27.16 ± 7.61ng/ml after supplementation. The value in control group was 18.79 ± 6.07 at the start and 19.14 ± 5.81 at end of study. The difference was highly significant (p<0.01).
The mean ACT score in study group was 16.62 ± 3.18 which improved to 22.08 ± 1.17 after treatment. The difference was highly significant (p<0.001). In the control group it was 17.57 ± 6.86 at the start and 19.78 ± 2.39 at the end of study (p<0.05). Those with lower vitamin D levels had lower ACT scores and vitamin D supplementation resulted in significant improvement in ACT scores (p<0.05).
Conclusion
Vitamin D levels were low in patients of asthma. There was highly significant improvement in asthma control and severity after supplementation with Vitamin D.
- © 2014 ERS