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Low vitamin D levels may be associated with impaired lung function in children with asthma

Category: Autoimmune Diseases

Children who have especially bad asthma may benefit from vitamin D testing, as new researcher has connected low levels of the nutrient to poorer lung function in young people with the condition.

A team of researchers from the Imperial College and King's College of London examined the vitamin D levels of children who suffer from a condition known as severe therapy-resistant asthma (STRA). As the name suggests, common treatments for asthma fail to control the symptoms of this condition.

The results showed that, compared to children with more moderate forms of asthma, those with treatment-resistant varieties had significantly lower levels of vitamin D. The researchers said their findings underscore the importance of maintaining healthy levels of the nutrient in young people with impaired lung function.

"Our results suggest that detecting vitamin D deficiency in children with STRA, and then treating that deficiency, may help prevent or reduce the structural changes that occur in the airway smooth muscle, which in turn may help reduce asthma-related symptoms and improve overall lung function," said lead researcher Atul Gupta.