Connection between Vitamin D deficiency and asthma

tedhutchinson · 2012-10-08 09:11:28

@ sittinginthesun ^"Tedhutchinson - I am really interested in the possible connection with Vitamin D deficiency and asthma. I believe I am vi d deficient and have asthma! Don't want to hijack this thread - is there any chance you could start another based on this topic?"^ It's been obvious for a long time that low Vitamin D status is associated with poor lung function. See *Is high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency evidence for asthma and allergy risks?* [[http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21789969]] ^*CONCLUSION:* Serum vitamin D levels were lower in asthmatic than control. Vitamin D deficiency was higher among children with asthma, allergic rhinitis, atopic dermatitis, acute urticaria, and food allergy. In addition, vitamin D deficiency was associated with IgE atopy markers in asthmatic children more than controls.^ If we look at this article *Vitamin D Deficiency and Lung Function in Asthmatic Children* [[http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/07/120713080022.htm]] it's possible to argue that it's the treatment for asthma that is actually causing the vitamin d deficiency. However, this paper suggests that the low vitamin d status comes first and predicts the onset of asthma. *Vitamin D Deficiency as a Strong Predictor of Asthma in Children* [[http://content.karger.com/produktedb/produkte.asp?DOI=000323941&typ=pdf]] ^The present study revealed that the majority of asthmatic children had vitamin D deficiency compared to control children. Vitamin D deficiency was the major predictor of asthma in Qatari children.^ Irrespective of the which came first chicken<>egg debate having low vitamin D status is bad job as it increases sensitivity to pain and increases vulnerability to infection as well as being linked to poorer muscle function. It's very easy to get 25(OH)D vitamin d level checked. *CityAssays* (Birmingham NHS path lab) offer postal checks for £25 or £20 each if you buy 10 and share with family friends. [[http://www.vitamindtest.org.uk/]] While it's interesting to take a starting point vit D test those who are hard up can skip that if they want, as it takes several months to correct vitamin d deficiency, work through insufficiency, and reach the optimum level for controlling inflammation 125nmol/l (50ng/ml). Healthy Origins, Vitamin D3 Drops, 5,000 IU are cheapest source of vitamin D3 I am aware of (if you know a cheaper source please help others by telling us as sun isn't an option in the UK until next March) Iherb do them for less than £5 Amazon and BigVits charge about £13 for same item. Initial introductory $5 discount code for IHerb is WAB666 but if order value reaches £15 or more Customs add 20% and UK post office charge £8 handling fee to collect tax which you have to pay at sorting office when you collect package. If you want to order more than $40 worth of stuff from IHERB $10 initial discount then choose DHL who charge £1.25 handling (on orders under £300) but deliver first then send customs bill. Expect 3 weeks by post 3~5 days DHL. Use 1000iu/daily for each 25lbs weight or 100iu/daily for each 2.5lbs your child weighs. The drops contain 2500iu 1 drop daily 2500iu for 62.5lbs weght 2 drops 5000iu vit d sufficient for 125lbs and so on. Half life of vit d in the body is 3 weeks so you can average out ideal intake over 7 days and take extra one day each week to account for remaining surplus amounts. So if your weight indicates you need more than 2 and a half drops daily it would be fine to alternate taking 2 day 1 and 3 day 2. Drops can be added to foods/drinks or beaten into cake/biscuit mix with the butter or added to home made icecream. Vit d is sufficiently robust to withstand baking/freezing. Just remember the total number of drops in mix and number of portions produced to work out the vit d in each portion. When I make yoghurt I add 7 drops so each jar contains 2500iu/vit d. It takes 3~5 months to reach a plateau 25(OH)D so retest vit d at that point If you start now then MARCH would be best (before any Vit d is available from sunlight) so you will then be able to understand how your body responds to that intake of vitamin D3. If you are then significantly over 125nmol/l you are a high responder and can safely reduce intake a bit over the summer for each 25nmol/l above reduce daily intake by 1000iu. If you remain significantly under 125nmol/l then increase daily intake by 1000iu/d extra daily for each 25nmol/l you are below target. Typically when people initially restore Vitamin d3 status they reach a plateau and stick at that level for some time (maybe 2~3 years) and then find that the same daily intake is producing a higher 25(OH)D as the body has topped up it's vitamin d reserves and is now able to manage on less. So it's important to continue 25(OH)D testing ideally the same time each year for some years to make sure the current dose is still sufficient or isn't creating a surplus. As we age our natural ability to produce Vitamin d in skin declines and if we change weight (body size) the amount of vit d we require also changes. Increasing 25(OH)D enables your body to absorb more calcium from food and water so if you are taking calcium supplements it may be a good idea to limit supplemental calcium to no more than 600mg daily because you will be absorbing more from diet. Calcium requires magnesium to act as a calcium channel blocker and counterbalance it's actions. Most of us don't get sufficient magnesium from diet so use an online magnesium calculator to check your diet and consider adding 400mg extra magnesium chelate or mag citrate/malate 100mg with each meal and before bed. It may also be worth reading the online preview section of book *Vitamin K2 and the Calcium Paradox: How a Little-Known Vitamin Could Save Your Life* and improving Vit K2 food sources. It's worth knowing the magnesium helps Vitamin D3 switch from the circulating form to the active hormonal form. The omega 3 form DHA also binds with the Vit d receptor and enhances Calcitriol production. *Asthma is a Chronic Inflammation of the Bronchial Tubes* it follows that EVERYTHING you do to reduce chronic inflammation will reduce severity of the condition. *The highest levels of inflammatory inhibition produce by Vitamin D3 are found at 50 ng/ml. = 125nmol/l* [[http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120223103920.htm]] Both magnesium and omega 3 also help resolve inflammation in their own right as well as by enhancing the ability of Vitamin D3 to switch on it's active hormone and fight inflammation more effectively. Although I was asked to talk about the role of vitamin D deficiency in Asthma I think there are more aspects to dealing with inflammation than just Vitamin D3 and the magnesium/omega 3 dha that directly assist calcitriol production. I am not a doctor, just someone with an inflammatory condition causing premature ageing with disabling consequences, who didn't enjoy being in a wheelchair and thought there must be a way out of his dilemma. As chronic inflammation affects lots of other conditions my experience is relevant to any other chronic inflammatory condition or chronic pain scenario. I think it's important that people who have successfully managed pain, infection, and the disabling consequences of chronic inflammation, share their expertise with others to prevent/reduce any needless suffering.

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