asthma Archives - Allergy Doctor Dallas

Low vitamin D levels in #Children and Development of #Asthma in later life.

Posted on October 3, 2014April 10, 2024 by Dr. Barbara Baxter

vitamin d

There is conflicting evidence about the association between low vitamin D levels in children and development of asthma in later life. The objective of this study was to systematically review the evidence for an epidemiological association between low serum levels of vitamin D and the diagnosis of asthma in children.

Methods

We used the Cochrane methodology for conducting systematic reviews. The search strategy included an electronic search of MEDLINE and EMBASE in February 2013. Two reviewers completed, in duplicate and independently, study selection, data abstraction, and assessment of risk of bias.

Results

Of 1081 identified citations, three cohort studies met eligibility criteria. Two studies found that low serum vitamin D level is associated with an increased risk of developing asthma late in childhood, while the third study found no association with either vitamin D2 or vitamin D3 levels. All three studies suffer from major methodological shortcomings that limit our confidence in their results.

Conclusions

Available epidemiological evidence suggests a potential association between low serum levels of vitamin D and the diagnosis of asthma in children. High quality studies are needed to reliably answer the question of interest.

Read the whole article here: http://www.aacijournal.com/content/10/1/31 | Courtesy – AACI

Prenatal Exposure to Chemicals in Plastics Linked to #Asthma Risk in Kids.

Posted on September 24, 2014April 10, 2024 by Dr. Barbara Baxter

Exposure in the womb to household chemicals known as phthalates might increase a child’s future risk of developing asthma, Columbia University researchers reported in a new study.

asthma

Children had nearly an 80 percent increased risk of developing asthma between age 5 and 11 if their mothers were exposed during pregnancy to high levels of two phthalates (pronounced thal-ates), the researchers found. The two phthalates were butylbenzyl phthalate and di-n-butyl phthalate, according to the study.

Asthma Allergy and Immunology

Posted on August 12, 2014April 10, 2024 by Dr. Barbara Baxter

Allergy, Asthma and Immunology More than half of United States citizens suffer from at least one allergy, a potentially harmful hyper-sensitivity to a specific substance, whether it is a pollen, food, drugs or material. The immune system controls how the body defends itself, creating reactions that can range from minor to life-threatening. Asthma is an allergic disease involving air restriction, leading to wheezing, coughing and shortness of breath. Allergies affect more than 50 million people in the United States, while about 23 million have been diagnosed by asthma, according to the American Lung Association, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. With over 30 years of experience, Dr. Baxter specializing in Asthma Allergy and Immunology has kept her patients’ allergies under control and helped them enjoy a better quality of life. If you are seeking relief from allergy symptoms and want a better quality of life, Dr. Baxter encourages you to meet with her and discuss your case.

Vitamin D Gets Mixed Results in Prospective Asthma Trial

Posted on July 9, 2014 by Dr. Barbara Baxter

Vitamin D supplementation has no significant effect on the overall rate of first treatment failure or exacerbation in patients with asthma and low vitamin D levels, according to the Vitamin D Add-on Therapy Enhances Corticosteroid Responsiveness in Asthma (VIDA) trial.

vitamins & asthma

However, in subjects who reached normal vitamin D levels, there were significant reductions in exacerbations and the rate of first treatment failure.

Retrospective studies have linked serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels below 30 ng/mL to airway hyper-responsiveness, impaired lung function, increased exacerbation frequency, and reduced corticosteroid responsiveness. It has also been suggested that vitamin D enhances the anti-inflammatory effect of corticosteroids.

Dr. Castro and colleagues evaluated 408 adults with symptomatic asthma and a serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D level below 30 ng/mL at 9 medical centers in the United States that belong to AsthmaNet, the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute asthma network.

Patients were randomized to receive an initial dose of 100,000 IU of oral vitamin D₃ followed by 4000 IU/day for 28 weeks (n = 201) or placebo (n = 207). At 28 weeks, there was a significant difference in cumulative ciclesonide dosing between the vitamin D and placebo groups (111.3 vs 126.2 µg/day; P = .02).

In addition, “the overall asthma treatment failure was significantly reduced and the exacerbations were significantly reduced in subjects that got to a normal vitamin D level,” said Dr. Castro reported.

Dr. Castro’s “gut feeling” is that vitamin D supplementation will prove to be useful in at least some people with asthma who have low vitamin D. He said he plans to study exacerbations in children who achieve sufficient vitamin D levels.

COURTESY: MEDSCAPE – For the latest medical news, clinical trial coverage, drug updates, journal articles, CME activities & more!

Read the full article at: http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/825444?src=emailthis

Tag: asthma