title: Vitamin D supplementation during pregnancy and infancy reduces aeroallergen sensitization: a randomized controlled trial.
abstract: Vitamin D has immune-modulating effects. We determined whether vitamin D supplementation during pregnancy and infancy prevents aeroallergen sensitization and primary care respiratory illness presentations.
  
  
  
  A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled parallel-group trial. We assigned pregnant women, from 27-week gestation to birth, and then their infants, from birth to 6 months, to placebo or one of two dosages of daily oral vitamin D. Woman/infant pairs were randomized to: placebo/placebo, 1000 IU/400 IU or 2000 IU/800 IU. When the children were 18 months old, we measured serum-specific IgE antibodies and identified acute primary care visits described by the doctor to be due to a cold, otitis media, an upper respiratory infection, croup, asthma, bronchitis, bronchiolitis, a wheezy lower respiratory infection or fever and cough.
  
  
  
  Specific IgE was measured on 185 of 260 (71%) enrolled children. The proportion of children sensitized differed by study group for four mite antigens: Dermatophagoides farinae (Der-f1, Der-f2) and Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (Der-p1, Der-p2). With results presented for placebo, lower dose, and higher dose vitamin D, respectively (all P < 0.05): Der-f1 (18%, 10%, 2%), Der-f2 (14%, 3%, 2%), Der-p1 (19%, 14%, 3%) and Der-p2 (12%, 2%, 3%). There were study group differences in the proportion of children with primary care visits described by the doctor as being for asthma (11%, 0%, 4%, P = 0.002), but not for the other respiratory diagnoses.
  
  
  
  Vitamin D supplementation during pregnancy and infancy reduces the proportion of children sensitized to mites at age 18 months. Preliminary data indicate a possible effect on primary care visits where asthma is diagnosed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics: Child & Youth Health, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.|Starship Children's Hospital, Auckland, New Zealand.
authors.forename: C C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Grant
authors.affiliation: Medicine, University of Otago, Wellington, New Zealand.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Crane
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics: Child & Youth Health, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.
authors.forename: E A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Mitchell
authors.affiliation: Starship Children's Hospital, Auckland, New Zealand.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sinclair
authors.affiliation: Epidemiology & Biostatistics, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Stewart
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics: Child & Youth Health, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Milne
authors.affiliation: Epidemiology & Biostatistics, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Knight
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics: Child & Youth Health, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gilchrist
authors.affiliation: Emergency Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Camargo
mesh_terms: D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology*; D015897:Comorbidity; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D006969:Hypersensitivity, Immediate / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D018811:Maternal Exposure; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; D012882:Skin Tests; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D014807:Vitamin D; D007073:Immunoglobulin E
keywords: Vitamin D, 25-hydroxyvitamin D; asthma; infant; pregnancy; supplementation