The Burden of Childhood Asthma: Is Vitamin D Deficiency blamed?

Volume : VII, Issue : IV, April - 2018

Samar Shaheen, Amal Naous, Bassem Abou Merhi, Mariam Rajab

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the role of vitamin D in childhood asthma by measuring serum

vitamin D levels in both asthmatic and healthy non-asthmatic children.

Study design: Asthmatic children (n= 150) and healthy controls (n=150) were recruited from Makassed General Hospital from October

2014 to May 2016. Interviews with parents of all the children were based on a questionnaire that included variables such as demographic

information, assessment of non-dietary covariates, vitamin D intake, type of feeding, and serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D assays were

performed. The diagnosis of asthma and its severity was assessed according to Global Initiative for Asthma guidelines.

Results: The prevalence of vitamin D de􀃶ciency was signi􀃶cantly higher (96%) in asthmatic children compared to (56%) healthy controls (P

<0.0001). Moderate and severe degrees of vitamin D de􀃶ciency (46.6% and 29.1% respectively) were signi􀃶cantly higher in asthmatic

children compared to these in healthy controls (24.2% and 0% respectively) (P < 0.0001). Positive family history of asthma (76%, P < 0.0001),

less physical activity (51%, P <0.0001) and sun light exposure (51.4%, P = 0.001) were signi􀃶cantly higher in asthmatic group. It was also

shown that the degree of vitamin D de􀃶ciency is signi􀃶cantly correlated to asthma severity (P􀀀 <􀀀 0.001).Vitamin D de􀃶ciency was a

signi􀃶cant correlate for asthma (OR: 23.18, 95% CI: 7.81 - 68.83, P < 0.0001).

Conclusion: The study 􀃶ndings revealed a high prevalence of Vitamin D de􀃶ciency in asthmatic children, which was found as a strong risk

factor for childhood asthma among Lebanese children.