Asthma in the elderly: a study of the role of vitamin D

Short report

Michele Columbo, Reynold A Panettieri and Albert S Rohr

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Allergy, Asthma & Clinical Immunology 2014, 10:48  doi:10.1186/1710-1492-10-48

Published: 5 September 2014

Abstract (provisional)

Background

Asthma in the elderly is poorly understood and vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency are very common in older individuals. We studied the role of vitamin D in elderly asthmatics.

Findings: Asthmatics subjects, age 65 and older, were followed every 4 weeks for 12 weeks in the late fall and winter. During the study period they took 2,000 I.U. vitamin D3 daily. Serum 25-Hydroxyvitamin D and calcium were measured at baseline and study end. Twenty nine percent of subjects were deficient and 50% insufficient in serum vitamin D at baseline. Serum vitamin D increased from 24.3 +/- 9.2 ng/ml (60.7 +/- 23 nmol/L) to 34 +/- 7.1 ng/ml (84.9 +/- 17.7 nmol/L) at the end of the study (p < 0.001), whereas calcium was unchanged. We found no significant association between vitamin D and subjects' demographics. Vitamin D was similar in men and women. There was no association between serum vitamin D and inhaled steroid dose. Vitamin D was significantly lower in subjects with uncontrolled asthma (Asthma Control Test, ACT -= 19) compared to the ones with well controlled symptoms (p - 0.05). In subjects with uncontrolled asthma at baseline, ACT scores increased significantly at the end of the study (p - 0.04), but not at 4 and 8 weeks. Spirometric values remained unchanged throughout the study.

Conclusions

Elderly asthmatics very commonly have vitamin D deficiency or insufficiency. Serum vitamin D levels were lower in subjects with uncontrolled asthma. In these subjects, vitamin D supplementation for 12 weeks led to improved ACT scores. Larger, randomized, placebo controlled studies are required to further evaluate whether vitamin D supplementation may improve asthma symptoms in this population.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01730976.

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