Vitamin D may Offer Relief to Asthma Sufferers

Vitamin D may offer relief to those suffering from asthma, according to experts. "There is a possible cause-and-effect relationship between vitamin D deficiency and uncontrolled asthma," said allergist Manbir Sandhu, 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.

Co-author: "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."

"Asthma is a serious and sometimes life threatening disease and needs to be treated that way. Always discuss use of supplements with your allergist."

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The article has been published this month in Annals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, the scientific journal of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI).

Source-ANI