title: Evidence for the role of inadequate vitamin D in asthma severity among children.
abstract: Asthma is the most common chronic pediatric medical condition in the United States and accounts for significant morbidity, particularly among minority and disadvantaged populations. Hypovitaminosis D is also highly prevalent throughout the developed world, and many of the risk factors for hypovitaminosis D and asthma are the same. Several recent observational studies have documented a correlation between asthma severity and vitamin D levels; however, there is no strong evidence for causality yet. Until trials of vitamin D supplementation among children with asthma are performed, the role of low levels of vitamin D in causing asthma morbidity will remain unclear.
authors.affiliation: Division of Emergency Medicine, Children's National Medical Center, Washington, DC, USA.
authors.forename: Lauren E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Staple
authors.forename: Stephen J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Teach
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001249:Asthma / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D002648:Child; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012306:Risk; D012307:Risk Factors; D013472:Sunlight; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*
chemical_list: D014807:Vitamin D