Low levels of vitamin D3 could put children at an increased risk of developing asthma while also exacerbating the symptoms in those who already have the condition.
Asthma is the leading chronic condition in childhood and incidences of the respiratory condition have quadrupled in the last two decades.
Researchers in the Division of Allergy and Immunology at the National Jewish Health Research Institute in Denver carried out a study involving asthmatic children up to the age of 18.
During their examination of the participants in the study, the team discovered that 17% of the children were fully deficient in vitamin D3 while almost half – 47% – showed insufficient levels of vitamin D3 in their blood.
It is known that those with dark skin will naturally have lower levels of vitamin D3 and this was borne out by the results of the study where 86% of the black children tested had a substantially higher vitamin D3 deficiency.
Asthma is an inflammation of the bronchial tubes (airways) that take air to and from the lung. It causes wheezing, shortness of breath, coughing and tightness in the chest. Asthma will typically be treated using a combination of what are known as preventers and relievers – preventers are corticosteroids that are inhaled to reduce the inflammation in the airways; relievers are drugs known as bronchodilators that relax the airways, making it easier for a person to breathe.
The Denver study showed that young patients whose inflammation was most active had the lowest levels of vitamin D3. However, in patients whose levels of vitamin D3 were higher, the vitamin appeared to work with the preventer medication to reduce inflammation more effectively.
The conclusion of the study is that raising levels of vitamin D3 in children can actively improve their response to asthma treatment. Vitamin D3 levels can be improved through diet.
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