Vitamin D serum levels and allergic rhinitis.
In addition to its role in the regulation of calcium metabolism, vitamin D has a number of immunological effects. Several studies in children found an effect of oral supplementation on allergic sensitization but so far there are no population-based studies of vitamin D serum levels. We therefore examined 25(OH)-D(3) status in 18,224 adults of the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. There was no effect on sensitization to a single allergen while the prevalence of allergic rhinitis increased across quartile groups of current vitamin D serum levels. The association could be due to unrecognized confounding, however, could also point towards an altered metabolism or an increased sensitivity to vitamin D in allergic patients.
Molecular Epidemiology Group, GSF National Research for Environment and Health, Ingolstaedter Landstrasse 1, Munich-Neuherberg, Germany.
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D000328:Adult; D000485:Allergens / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000276:immunology; D002112:Calcifediol / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D006255:Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology; D012882:Skin Tests; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology
D000485:Allergens; D002112:Calcifediol