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# Vitamin D may help children with asthma
- URL: https://www.foodconsumer.org/vitamin-d_asthma_1220110730/
- Published: 2011-12-20T08:28:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-22T16:04:37.000Z
- Description: Among 86 children studied in London, those with therapy-resistant asthma averaged 28 nmol/L of vitamin D, against 42.5 in children with moderate asthma and 56.5 in those without asthma. Higher levels tracked with better lung function and fewer exacerbations.
- Author: Food Consumer
- Tags: Vitamins, Nutrition, Vitamin D, Asthma, #vivvo-import

By David Liu, PHD

Tuesday Dec 20, 2011 (foodconsumer.org) -- Low levels of serum vitamin D may worsen asthma, according to a new study in the Dec 15, 2011 issue of American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.

The study led by Atul Guptal at Royal Brompton Hospital in London, UK and colleagues shows that children with therapy resistant asthma (STRA) had significantly low levels of vitamin D in their blood than those who had moderate asthma or no asthma.

For the study, the researchers measured serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D \[25(OH)D3\] in 86 children at an average of 11.7 years, 36 with therapy resistant asthma, 26 with moderate asthma and 24 without asthma. 

The researchers further assessed the associations between vitamin D, the asthma control test (ACT), spirometry, corticosteroid use and exacerbations. Twenty two of 36 children with therapy resistant asthma were also subject to fiberoptic bronchoscopy, bronchoalveolar lavage, and endobronchial biopsy to assess airway inflammation.

The results show that those with therapy-resistant asthma had 28 nmol per liter of vitamin D in their blood. This is compared to 42.5 nmol/L in those with moderate asthma and 56.5 nmol/L in the controls without asthma. Vitamin D levels were positively associated with percent predicted FVC and FEV1 in all subjects.

FVC refers to forced vital capacity - the determination of the vital capacity from a maximally forced expiratory effort while FEV1 refers to volume that has been exhaled at the end of the first second of forced expiration.

In addition, 25(OH)D3 levels were positively associated with ACT, and inversely correlated with exacerbations and inhaled steroid dose in children with moderate asthma and therapy resistant asthma.

Airway smooth muscle mass (ASM), but not epithelial shedding or reticular basement membrane thickness, was inversely associated to serum 25(OH)D3 levels. 

The researchers concluded"lower vitamin D levels in children with STRA were associated with increased ASM mass and worse asthma control and lung function. The link between vitamin D, airway structure, and function suggests vitamin D supplementation may be useful in pediatric STRA"