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RESEARCH PRODUCT

Vitamin D Insufficiency In Adult Asthma Is Associated With Asthma Severity And Control

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Data in asthmatic children suggest that low vitamin D levels are associated with poor asthma control, reduced lung function, and increased medication intake. To investigate the role of vitamin D insufficiency in adult asthmatics 25-hydroxyvitamin D was measured in 280 adult patients with asthma (mean±SEM: 45.0±0.8 yrs., 40% male, FEV1 74.9±1.4%) and correlated with clinical parameters of asthma control. The majority of patients had severe asthma (n=155, 55%) and were uncontrolled (n=144, 51%). Serum levels of vitamin D were significantly related to asthma severity (mean±SEM: intermittent 31.1±3.2 ng/ml, mild 27.3±1.6 ng/ml, moderate 26.5±1.5, severe 24.0±0.9, p=0.046) and asthma control (controlled 29.5±1.9, partly controlled 25.9±1.1, uncontrolled 24.2±1.0 ng/ml, p=0.030). Frequency of vitamin D insufficiency (vitamin D <30 ng/ml) was significantly higher in patients with severe or uncontrolled asthma and was associated with a lower FEV1 (vitamin D <30 vs. ≥30 ng/ml 2.3±0.1 L vs. 2.7±0.1 L, p=0.006), higher levels of exhaled NO (45±4 ppb vs. 31±4 ppb, p=0.023), a higher BMI (28.3±0.5 vs. 25.1±0.4, p<0.001), and sputum eosinophilia (5.1±1.6% vs. 0.5±0.2%, p=0.005). Levels of serum vitamin D were associated with clinical parameters of asthma severity and control supporting the hypothesis that improving suboptimal vitamin D status might be effective in prevention and treatment of asthma.