Vitamin D and asthma occurrence in children: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract

ProblemThe association between serum 25-Hydroxyvitamin D (25-OHD) level and asthma occurrence in children was controversial. Eligibility criteriaThe Pubmed, Ovid Medline, Embase, Cochrane Library were systematically searched up to April 13th 2020. All the study measured the serum 25-OHD level in children, or classified the children based on the 25-OHD level into severe vitamin D deficiency, insufficient deficiency and comparing the prevalence of asthma in childhood were included in our study. SampleA total of 35 studies were included in our meta-analysis. Among them, 24 studies were included for analyzing the association between 25-OHD level and asthma, and 12 studies evaluated the treatment effect of vitamin D. ResultsThe children with asthma (5711 participants) had significant lower 25-OHD level than children without asthma (21,561 participants) (21.7 ng/ml versus 26.5 ng/ml, SMD = −1.36, 95% = −2.40--0.32, P = 0.010). Besides, the children with asthma treated with vitamin D supplement had a significantly lower recurrence rate than the placebo group (18.4% versus 35.9%, RR = 0.35, 95%CI = 0.35–0.79, P = 0.002). ConclusionsChildren with asthma had a lower 25-OHD level than healthy children. Vitamin D supplement could decrease the asthma recurrence rate in the follow-up years. ImplicationsThis study implies that lower 25-OHD may cause asthma in childhood.