Vitamin D and asthma

Abstract

Asthma, one of the most prevalent diseases affecting people worldwide, is a chronic respiratory disease characterized by heightened airway inflammation, airway hyperresponsiveness and airflow obstruction in response to specific triggers. While the specific mechanisms responsible for asthma are not well understood, changing environmental factors associated with urban lifestyles may underlie the increased prevalence of the disorder. Vitamin D is of particular interest in asthma since vitamin D concentrations decrease with increased time spent indoors, decreased exposure to sunlight, less exercise, obesity, and inadequate calcium intake. Additionally, a growing body of literature suggests that there is a relationship between vitamin D status and respiratory symptoms, presumably through immunomodulatory effects of vitamin D. This review discusses vitamin D as it relates to asthma across the age spectrum, with a focus on human studies.

Vitamin D Levels In Children with Bronchial Asthma

“…Vitamin-D is a fat-soluble nutrient and steroid hormone that has classical actions like increasing calcium absorption and maintenance of bone health. Recently, cardiovascular diseases, inflammation, infectious diseases, multiple sclerosis, impaired physical functioning, allergic diseases and all-cause mortality have been related inversely to serum Vitamin-D concentrations [4,16]. The existence of associations of vitamin-D with asthma remains uncertain.…”

“…It is also believed to be a potent immune system regulator having a potential role in various allergic diseases [4]. A potential role of Vitamin-D in tuberculosis, pneumonia, inflenza and respiratory infections has been proposed [4]. The existence of associations of vitamin-D with asthma and allergy remains uncertain.…”

“…Some non classical actions of Vitamin-D include cellular differentiation, insulin secretion, and blood pressure. It is also believed to be a potent immune system regulator having a potential role in various allergic diseases [4]. A potential role of Vitamin-D in tuberculosis, pneumonia, inflenza and respiratory infections has been proposed [4].…”

Recomendações da Sociedade Brasileira de Endocrinologia e Metabologia (SBEM) para o diagnóstico e tratamento da hipovitaminose D

“…Few intervention studies, evaluating vitamin D supplementation with asthma exists in the literature (155,156,162). One of them demonstrated that 1,200 IU per day in children was associated to 83% reduction in the risk of disease exacerbation.…”

Efectos de la concentración de 25-hidroxi vitamina D sobre la gravedad y el control del asma en pacientes asmáticos en edad escolar

“…4 Según los datos de la Encuesta Nacional de Examen de Salud y Nutrición (National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, NHANES), solamente un cuarto de los adolescentes y adultos de los Estados Unidos tienen una concentración adecuada de vitamina D. 5 Además de los efectos sobre el metabolismo del calcio y el desarrollo óseo, se cree que la vitamina D también regula intensamente el sistema inmunitario y tiene una función potencial en varias enfermedades alérgicas. 6 El hecho de que haya receptores de vitamina D (RVD) en todas las células (cerebro, corazón, estómago, páncreas, pezones, gónadas, linfocitos T y B, monocitos, pulmones, etc.) excepto en los huesos indica que la vitamina D participa …”