Vitamin D may improve asthma: Report

Sep 8 2010

Supplement your asthma action plan with Vitamin D and you may experience improved asthma control according to an article published this month in Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, the scientific journal of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI).

"There is a possible cause-and-effect relationship between vitamin D deficiency and uncontrolled asthma," said allergist Manbir Sandhu, MD, lead author and ACAAI member. "Evidence suggests that vitamin D has a number of biologic factors that are important in regulating key mechanisms in asthma."

Authors conducted a review of almost 60 years of literature on vitamin D and asthma. According to the article, vitamin D deficiency is associated with increased airway hyperresponsiveness, lower lung functions, and inferior asthma control. Vitamin D deficiency is more common with obesity, in African American ethnicity and westernization of countries reflecting a higher-risk population for asthma. The authors recommend that long-term interventional trials be conducted in asthma patients.

"Vitamin D can complement your prescribed asthma treatment plan as it has been shown to have some anti-inflammatory properties, but should never be used as an alternative to prescribed medication," said allergist Thomas Casale, M.D., co author and ACAAI Fellow. "Asthma is a serious and sometimes life threatening disease and needs to be treated that way. Always discuss use of supplements with your allergist."

Source : Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology