Vitamin D Deficiency independently linked to Poor Asthma Outcomes in Children: Study
A new study published in the journal of Frontiers in Public Health showed that school-age children with asthma frequently suffer from vitamin D insufficiency, which is independently associated with poor asthma control, more frequent exacerbations, and higher hospitalization rates.
Vitamin D insufficiency is becoming more widely acknowledged as a modifiable factor impacting immunological regulation and respiratory health, and asthma continues to be a major cause of morbidity among school-age children globally. However, there is little data on its relationship to asthma management and exacerbation patterns in children from low- and middle-class backgrounds. Thus, this study evaluated the relationship between asthma and vitamin D insufficiency in school-age children.
320 children aged 6 to 14 who were diagnosed with asthma between January 2019 and December 2023 were included in this retrospective single-center research. 210 kids were examined after inclusion and exclusion criteria were used. Data on sociodemographic traits, asthma control status, frequency of exacerbations, hospitalization history, and biochemical tests (serum vitamin D, calcium, phosphate, and parathyroid hormone) were gathered from medical records and structured questionnaires. The patients were classified as either adequate, insufficient, or deficient in vitamin D. R (v4.3.2) was used for statistical analyses, such as multivariable logistic regression, ANOVA, and χ2 tests.
Of the youngsters, 45.2% had a vitamin D deficit, 31.0% had inadequate amounts, and 23.8% had sufficient amounts. When compared to insufficient (43.1%) and sufficient groups (24.0%), deficient children had worse asthma control (63.2%). When compared to the inadequate (1.9 ± 1.1) and sufficient groups (1.1 ± 0.9), the deficient group had the greatest mean yearly exacerbation rate (2.6 ± 1.3). Also, there were notable differences in hospitalization rates (31.6, 18.5, and 12.0%, respectively; p = 0.014).
After controlling for age, sex, BMI, and treatment profile, multivariable logistic regression revealed that vitamin D insufficiency independently predicted poor asthma control (adjusted OR: 2.8, 95% CI: 1.6-4.9, p < 0.001). Overall, among school-age children with asthma, vitamin D deficiency is quite common and is independently linked to poor control, more frequent exacerbations, and more hospital admissions. These results highlight the importance of frequent screening and the necessity of considering vitamin D supplementation as part of integrated pediatric asthma management.
Source:
Dong, L., & Li, Y. (2025). Vitamin D deficiency and asthma morbidity in school-age children: a single-center cohort study. Frontiers in Public Health, 13(1717912), 1717912. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1717912
