Children whose vitamin D3 levels are low face an increased risk of asthma. Research suggests that higher levels of vitamin D3 improves the effectiveness of the corticosteroids prescribed in the most severe cases of asthma.
Asthma is the most common long-term medical condition affecting children worldwide. The condition is a chronic inflammation of the airways leading to the lungs, which causes difficulty in breathing, wheezing, coughing, tightness in the chest and excess mucus.
Research carried out at the Division of Allergy and Immunology at the National Jewish Health Research Institute, in Denver, showed that almost half of the children in their study (all aged under 18) had insufficient levels of vitamin D3 with 17% completely deficient in the vitamin.
Vitamin D3 is known as the sunshine vitamin because it is produced by the body when exposed to sunlight. Dark-skinned people are known to have lower levels of vitamin D3 and this was confirmed in the study, which showed that 86% of the black children taking part were substantially deficient in vitamin D3.
The study also revealed that the children with the most active inflammation had lower vitamin D3 levels while higher levels of vitamin D3 improved the ability of the corticosteroids to suppress inflammation.
Vitamin D3 supplements may be required for children who have asthma and low levels of the vitamin in their blood levels.
Does Lack of Vitamin D3 Increase Children’s Asthma Risk?
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