Abstract
BackgroundEpidemiologic studies suggest an association between vitamin D deficiency and atopic diseases, including asthma. The objective of this study was to systematically review the benefits and harms of vitamin D supplementation in children with asthma.MethodsWe used standard Cochrane systematic review methodology. The search strategy included an electronic search in February 2013 of MEDLINE and EMBASE. Two reviewers completed in duplicate and independently study selection, data abstraction, and assessment of risk of bias. We pooled the results of trials using a random-effects model. We assessed the quality of evidence by outcome using the GRADE methodology.ResultsFour trials with a total of 149 children met eligibility criteria. The trials had major methodological limitations. Given the four studies reporting on asthma symptoms used different instruments to measure that outcome, we opted not to conduct a meta-analysis. Three of those studies reported improvement in asthma symptoms in the vitamin D supplemented group study, while the fourth reported no effect (very low quality evidence). For the lung function outcome, a meta-analysis of two trials assessing post treatment FEV-1 found a mean difference of 0.54 liters per second (95% CI -5.28; 4.19; low quality evidence). For the vitamin D level outcome, a meta-analysis of three trials found a mean difference of 6.56 ng/ml (95% CI -0.64; 13.77; very low quality evidence).ConclusionsThe available very low to low quality evidence does not confirm or rule out beneficial effects of vitamin D supplementation in children with asthma. Large-scale, well-designed and executed randomized controlled trials are needed to better understand the effectiveness and safety of vitamin D in children with asthma.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13104-014-0961-3) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
Highlights
To assess a pulmonary function change over time the mass flow sensor and the pneumotachograph are widely used in commercially available instruments
The aim of this study is to determine the smallest detectable change of vital capacity (VC) and singlebreath diffusion parameters measured by mass flow sensor and pneumotachograph
Mean pulmonary function outcome results measured by mass flow sensor were not different from pneumotachograph measurements (Table 1)
Summary
To assess a pulmonary function change over time the mass flow sensor and the pneumotachograph are widely used in commercially available instruments. The smallest detectable change for both devices has never been compared. The aim of this study is to determine the smallest detectable change in vital capacity (VC) and single-breath diffusion parameters measured by mass flow sensor and or pneumotachograph. To measure pulmonary function changes over time the mass flow sensor and the pneumotachograph are widely used instruments. Pulmonary function instruments with the smallest detectable change are best suited for evaluating changes as a result of disease progress or applied therapy. The aim of this study is to determine the smallest detectable change of vital capacity (VC) and singlebreath diffusion parameters measured by mass flow sensor and pneumotachograph
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