Researchers studying the link between low levels of vitamin D and the severity of asthma attacks took blood samples from 1,024 children with mild to moderate asthma who used one of two inhaled asthma drugs, budesonide and nedocromil.
The children were then followed for four years.
Those children with insufficient vitamin D in their system were more likely to suffer from severe asthma than children with higher levels.
In the four years of the study 38 percent of those with a vitamin D deficiency needed hospital treatment after an asthma attack at least once, compared to 32 percent of those with high levels of the vitamin.
Having high levels of vitamin D did not seem to prevent the children experiencing moderate asthma symptoms. Instead they found that lower vitamin levels appeared to be linked to a lower risk of moderate symptoms.
While it has always been known that vitamin D helps maintain healthy teeth and bones, it is now known to help regulate the immune system. Low levels in the body can increase the risk of allergy, infection autoimmune disease, cancer and heart disease.
Based on the results of the most recent study, the researchers believe vitamin D may also help to regulate the body’s inflammatory response, increasing the strength of the anti-inflammatory hormones. They found that youngsters who were prescribed budesonide, a synthetic anti-inflammatory hormone, were more protected when they had sufficient levels of vitamin D.
It is important to have a balanced diet in which your body gets the vitamins and minerals it needs, more so in people whose bodies are weakened with diseases and conditions like asthma.
Vitamin D is found in oily fish and eggs and some food, particularly breakfast cereals, are fortified with it. But the best source of vitamin D is the sun. The vitamin is produced by a reaction from our skin to the sun.