title: Is vitamin D deficiency correlated with childhood wheezing and asthma?
abstract: There is increasing evidence that vitamin D regulates immune responses. There is also epidemiological evidence of a relationship between vitamin D deficiency and development of asthma. In addition, several epidemiological studies suggest that low levels of vitamin D during pregnancy and early life are inversely associated with the risk of developing respiratory infections and wheezing in childhood. Vitamin D also seems to reduce asthma exacerbation and increase the response to glucocorticoids. These findings have led to considering a possible link between the occurrence of allergic respiratory diseases and low levels of vitamin D. However, the precise role of vitamin D in the pathogenesis of asthma still remains unclear, emphasizing the need for well-designed trials on vitamin D supplementation to decipher its role in preventing and/or managing the disease. This review examines the relationship that exists between vitamin D deficiency and childhood wheezing and asthma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of Verona, G.B. Rossi Polyclinic, Piazzale L.A. Scuro 10, 37134 Verona, Italy.
authors.forename: Pasquale
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Comberiati
authors.affiliation: Child Health Department, Medical School, University of Ioannina, P.O. Box 1187, 45110, Ioannina, Greece.
authors.forename: Sophia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tsabouri
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of Verona, G.B. Rossi Polyclinic, Piazzale L.A. Scuro 10, 37134 Verona, Italy.
authors.forename: Giorgio L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Piacentini
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of Verona, G.B. Rossi Polyclinic, Piazzale L.A. Scuro 10, 37134 Verona, Italy.
authors.forename: Serena
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Moser
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of Verona, G.B. Rossi Polyclinic, Piazzale L.A. Scuro 10, 37134 Verona, Italy.
authors.forename: Federica
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Minniti
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of Verona, G.B. Rossi Polyclinic, Piazzale L.A. Scuro 10, 37134 Verona, Italy.
authors.forename: Diego G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Peroni
mesh_terms: D001249:Asthma / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D039382:Maternal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena / Q000276:immunology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D012135:Respiratory Sounds / Q000276:immunology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012307:Risk Factors; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology*