Vitamin D may help asthmatics

Vitamin D may help 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."

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