title: Improved control of childhood asthma with low-dose, short-term vitamin D supplementation: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.
abstract: In our prior randomized trial on preventing influenza, asthma attacks as a secondary outcome occurred less often in the vitamin D group than in the placebo group. We aimed to clarify whether low-dose, short-term vitamin D supplementation, in addition to standard treatments, improves control of childhood asthma.
  
  
  
  We conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial comparing vitamin D3 supplements (800 IU/day) with placebo for 2 months in schoolchildren with asthma. The primary outcomes were frequency and severity of asthma judging from changes in asthma control levels defined by the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) by collaborating doctors at 2 and 6 months.
  
  
  
  Japanese schoolchildren with asthma (n = 89) were randomly assigned to receive vitamin D (n = 54) or placebo (n = 35). At 2 months, GINA asthma control was significantly more improved in the vitamin D group compared with the placebo group (P = 0.015). Childhood asthma control test (CACT) scores, a secondary outcome, were also significantly (P = 0.004) improved in the vitamin D group compared with the placebo group at 2 months, and differences remained significant (P = 0.012) at 6 months. The proportion of patients with a peak expiratory flow rate <80% predicted was significantly less in the vitamin D group (8/54: 15%) than in the placebo group (12/35: 34%) at 6 months (P = 0.032).
  
  
  
  Low-dose, short-term vitamin D supplementation in addition to standard treatment may improve levels of asthma control in schoolchildren.
authors: Department of Pediatrics, Jikei University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
authors: H
authors: H
authors: Tachimoto
authors: Department of Pediatrics, Jikei University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.|Division of Molecular Epidemiology, Jikei University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
authors: H
authors: H
authors: Mezawa
authors: Department of Pediatrics, Jikei University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.|Department of Pediatrics, Fuji Chuo Hospital, Shizuoka, Japan.
authors: T
authors: T
authors: Segawa
authors: Department of Pediatrics, Jikei University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.|Department of Pediatrics, Fuji Chuo Hospital, Shizuoka, Japan.
authors: N
authors: N
authors: Akiyama
authors: Department of Pediatrics, Jikei University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
authors: H
authors: H
authors: Ida
authors: Department of Pediatrics, Jikei University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.|Division of Molecular Epidemiology, Jikei University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Urashima
mesh_terms: D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology; D000818:Animals; D001249:Asthma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D015415:Biomarkers; D002648:Child; D015897:Comorbidity; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D015415:Biomarkers; D014807:Vitamin D; D007073:Immunoglobulin E
keywords: 25OHD; asthma; child; cholecalciferol; improvement