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Published on: August 7, 2017
Vitamin D and atopy and asthma phenotypes in children
1Telethon Institute for Child Health Research, Centre for Child Health Research, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia. elysiah@ichr.uwa.edu.au
Insights
Low vitamin D levels in children are linked to increased risk of atopy and asthma. Ensuring adequate vitamin D during pregnancy and childhood may help prevent these conditions.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Allergy and Immunology
- Respiratory Medicine
- Nutritional Science
Background:
- Atopy and asthma are significant childhood health concerns.
- The role of vitamin D in immune system regulation is increasingly recognized.
- Existing research suggests potential links between vitamin D deficiency and allergic diseases.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review current research on the association between vitamin D deficiency and childhood atopy and asthma.
- To explore epidemiological and mechanistic evidence supporting this link.
- To identify knowledge gaps and future research directions.
Main Methods:
- Review of recent epidemiological studies correlating vitamin D status with atopy and asthma in children.
- Analysis of mechanistic studies investigating vitamin D's role in relevant biological processes.
- Focus on determinants of childhood asthma phenotypes and vitamin D's impact.
Main Results:
- Vitamin D levels show an inverse association with corticosteroid use, airflow limitation, and exacerbations in asthmatic children.
- Low vitamin D is linked to atopy and asthma in children and adolescents, particularly in boys.
- Vitamin D levels at age 6 predicted atopy and asthma outcomes at age 14.
- Mechanistic studies show vitamin D deficiency in pregnancy leads to reduced lung function in offspring.
Conclusions:
- Current evidence suggests that maintaining adequate vitamin D levels during pregnancy and childhood may reduce the incidence of atopy and asthma.
- Further research is needed to determine optimal vitamin D levels, timing, and duration of intervention.
- Sex and individual variations in vitamin D requirements warrant further investigation.
Purpose Of Review:
To give an overview of the recent research into whether a lack of vitamin D contributes to the development of atopy and asthma in childhood.
Recent Findings:
I describe here the recent epidemiological studies relating vitamin D status to atopy and asthma in children, focusing on determinants of major asthma phenotypes in childhood. Recent findings include the observations that vitamin D levels are inversely associated with degree of corticosteroid use, worsening airflow limitation and increased exacerbations among asthmatics. Low vitamin D has been associated with atopy and asthma in children and adolescents in a community cohort, predominantly in boys, with vitamin D at age 6 predicting these outcomes at 14. I also detail the mechanistic studies examining relevant vitamin D-regulated processes; recent findings include the demonstration that offspring of mice with vitamin D deficiency in pregnancy show reduced lung volume and function.
Summary:
The current literature suggests that intervention to ensure adequate vitamin D levels during both pregnancy and childhood may reduce the development of atopy and asthma in children. However, important questions need to be answered regarding the levels of vitamin D required, which may vary between the sexes and between individuals, and the optimal timing and duration of such intervention.
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