Vitamin D and asthma

SD Brown, HH Calvert, AM Fitzpatrick - Dermato-endocrinology, 2012 - Taylor & Francis
SD Brown, HH Calvert, AM Fitzpatrick
Dermato-endocrinology, 2012Taylor & Francis
Asthma, one of the most prevalent diseases affecting people worldwide, is a chronic
respiratory disease characterized by heightened airway inflammation, airway
hyperresponsiveness and airflow obstruction in response to specific triggers. While the
specific mechanisms responsible for asthma are not well understood, changing
environmental factors associated with urban lifestyles may underlie the increased
prevalence of the disorder. Vitamin D is of particular interest in asthma since vitamin D …
Asthma, one of the most prevalent diseases affecting people worldwide, is a chronic respiratory disease characterized by heightened airway inflammation, airway hyperresponsiveness and airflow obstruction in response to specific triggers. While the specific mechanisms responsible for asthma are not well understood, changing environmental factors associated with urban lifestyles may underlie the increased prevalence of the disorder. Vitamin D is of particular interest in asthma since vitamin D concentrations decrease with increased time spent indoors, decreased exposure to sunlight, less exercise, obesity, and inadequate calcium intake. Additionally, a growing body of literature suggests that there is a relationship between vitamin D status and respiratory symptoms, presumably through immunomodulatory effects of vitamin D. This review discusses vitamin D as it relates to asthma across the age spectrum, with a focus on human studies.
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