Biomedicine

Abstract

Introduction and Aim: The role of calcitriol in physiological and pathophysiological processes has been recognized in the last couple of years. It plays an important role in immune regulation through interactions with vitamin D receptors (VDRs) expressed on airway immune cells, regulating the transcription of genes of inflammation and immunomodulation. Higher calcitriol concentrations have been associated with better pulmonary function. This study was planned to find whether there is an association between the serum vitamin D levels and pulmonary function.
Materials and Methods: Sixty adults with asthma attending the outpatient department of pulmonary medicine and thirty healthy controls were included in the study. This case–control study was carried out in a tertiary health care hospital. The subjects were diagnosed according to GINA guidelines and grouped into three groups 1 constituted healthy controls, 2 and 3 included subjects with well controlled and uncontrolled asthma/acute exacerbation of asthma respectively. Serum 25(OH) Vitamin D, calcium, phosphate and pulmonary function test were measured and compared between the groups. One way ANOVA was used to compare the means of the parameters. Pearson’s correlation analysis was used to find the correlation between vitamin D and pulmonary function test.
Results: This study documents high vitamin D levels in well controlled asthma when compared to uncontrolled group (p<0.05). We also observed significant positive correlation of vitamin D with FEV1 and FEV1/FVC ratio.
Conclusion: Vitamin D levels are significantly high in the well-controlled asthma patients when compared to uncontrolled group with a positive correlation between the vitamin D levels and pulmonary function test. This indicates that an increased vitamin D level is associated with a good pulmonary function.