title: Vitamin D levels and food and environmental allergies in the United States: results from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2005-2006.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Previous research supports a possible link between low vitamin D levels and atopic disease. However, the association between low vitamin D levels and total and allergen-specific IgE levels has not been studied.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We sought to test the association between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D) deficiency (<15 ng/mL) and insufficiency (15-29 ng/mL) and allergic sensitization measured by serum IgE levels in a US nationally representative sample of 3136 children and adolescents and 3454 adults in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2005-2006.
  
  
  METHODS
  The association of 25(OH)D deficiency with 17 different allergens was assessed after adjustment for potential confounders, including age; sex; race/ethnicity; obesity, low socioeconomic status; frequency of milk intake; daily hours spent watching television, playing videogames, or using a computer; serum cotinine levels; and vitamin D supplement use.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In children and adolescents allergic sensitization to 11 of 17 allergens was more common in those with 25(OH)D deficiency. Compared with sufficient vitamin D levels of greater than 30 ng/mL, after multivariate adjustment, 25(OH)D levels of less than 15 ng/mL were associated with peanut (odds ratio [OR], 2.39; 95% CI, 1.29-4.45), ragweed (OR, 1.83; 95% CI, 1.20-2.80), and oak (OR, 4.75; 95% CI, 1.53-4.94) allergies (P < .01 for all). Eight other allergens were associated with 25(OH)D deficiency, with P values of less than .05 but greater than .01. There were no consistent associations seen between 25(OH)D levels and allergic sensitization in adults.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Vitamin D deficiency is associated with higher levels of IgE sensitization in children and adolescents. Further research is needed to confirm these findings.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA.
authors.forename: Shimi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sharief
authors.forename: Sunit
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jariwala
authors.forename: Juhi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Muntner
authors.forename: Michal L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Melamed
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000485:Allergens / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000276:immunology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004777:Environment; D005260:Female; D005512:Food Hypersensitivity / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D006969:Hypersensitivity, Immediate / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood*; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000097:blood; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D014807:Vitamin D; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; C104450:25-hydroxyvitamin D