A Gupta at Department of Paediatric Respiratory Medicine, Royal Brompton Hospital & Imperial College London and colleagues published a review in Paediatr Respir Rev. that suggests that taking vitamin D may help children with asthma.

The authors say vitamin D deficiency has been associated not only with musculoskeletal problems, but also many other conditions including asthma.  

Children with asthma seem at an increased risk of vitamin D insufficiency, the authors report.   In children with asthma, those with low vitamin D or vitamin d insufficiency tended to have more symptoms, exacerbation, reduced lung capacity, and increased medication use, epidemiological studies have shown.

The authors also say that vitamin D can help adult asthmatics as well because it enhances steroid response.

According to Vitamin D Council, vitamin d deficiency has been linked to more than 100 health conditions including heart disease, diabetes mellitus, high blood pressure, cancer, and depression.  Vitamin D protects against diseases because it is involved in promoting innate immunity and anti-inflammation. (David Liu)