Abstract
Recent research on vitamin D in young children has expanded from bone development to exploring immunomodulatory effects. Our aim was to investigate the relationship of vitamin D status and allergic diseases in preschool-aged children in New Zealand. Dried capillary blood spots were collected from 1329 children during late-winter to early-spring for 25(OH)D measurement by LC-MS/MS. Caregivers completed a questionnaire about their child’s recent medical history. Analysis was by multivariable logistic regression. Mean 25(OH)D concentration was 52(SD19) nmol/L, with 7% of children <25 nmol/L and 49% <50 nmol/L. Children with 25(OH)D concentrations ≥75 nmol/L (n = 29) had a two-fold increased risk for parent-report of doctor-diagnosed food allergy compared to children with 25(OH)D 50–74.9 nmol/L (OR = 2.21, 1.33–3.68, p = 0.002). No associations were present between 25(OH)D concentration and presence of parent-reported eczema, allergic rhinoconjunctivitis or atopic asthma. Vitamin D deficiency was not associated with several allergic diseases in these New Zealand preschool children. In contrast, high 25(OH)D concentrations were associated with a two-fold increased risk of parental-report food allergy. This increase supports further research into the association between vitamin D status and allergic disease in preschool children.
Highlights
Vitamin D research in young children has previously concentrated on skeletal health including rickets
Few cross-sectional studies have explored the relationship of allergic diseases with vitamin D status, in preschool aged children
With New Zealand preschool children having a high burden of allergic disease and living in a country with abundant sunshine yet high population rates of vitamin D deficiency, the aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between vitamin D status and prevalence of allergic diseases—eczema, food allergy, allergic rhinoconjunctivitis and atopic asthma—in a self-selected sample of New Zealand preschool children aged 2 to
Summary
Vitamin D research in young children has previously concentrated on skeletal health including rickets. Recent discoveries of an immune modulation role for vitamin D has led to the investigation of associations of vitamin D status with a number of immune mediated childhood illnesses, including auto-immune, atopic and infectious conditions [1,2,3]. Few cross-sectional studies have explored the relationship of allergic diseases with vitamin D status, in preschool aged children. Morbidity from childhood allergic diseases can be high and includes diminished quality of life and increased health costs for the child, their family and the community [4]. Exaggerated immune responses to certain food proteins and associated anaphylaxis have increased over the past two decades in neighbouring Australia and worldwide [7] Nutrients 2016, 8, 326 have amongst the highest rates of eczema, allergic rhinoconjunctivitis and asthma in the world [5,6].
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