More evidence that vitamin D deficiency makes asthma worse

Young African-Americans in Washington, DC were studied by researchers at George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, in Washington, DC.

First, the details.

• Total blood levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D were measured in 113 young African-American residents of Washington, DC.
• Insufficiency was defined as blood levels less than 30 ng/mL; and deficiency was less than 20 ng/mL.
• 21 of these people had physician-diagnosed asthma.

And, the results.

• The prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency and deficiency was significantly greater among those with asthma vs those without asthma (86% vs 19%).

The bottom line?

Most of this sample of urban African-American youth with persistent asthma were vitamin D deficient or insufficient.

The authors believe that “strong consideration should be given to routine vitamin D testing in urban African-American youth, particularly those with asthma.”

An earlier study of children living in Costa Rica had similar findings.

4/6/10 20:17 JR