In March 2020 researchers from the UK, USA, Canada and Belgium published the results of their study to assess whether vitamin D metabolism is altered in asthma or congestive obstructive pulmonary disease. Vitamin D metabolism involves the vitamin D first being metabolized to 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D), then to the hormonal form 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D (1,25(OH)2D). The researchers stated that vitamin D deficiency is common in patients with asthma and congestive obstructive pulmonary disease and it is thought that low 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D) levels may either be a cause or a consequence of these conditions. A total of 186 adults with asthma, congestive obstructive pumonary disease or neither condition were included in the study. Each individual received six oral doses of 3 mg vitamin D3, administered over one year, and all vitamin D levels were assessed before and after supplementation. Results showed that following the supplementation the increase in 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D) levels in individuals with both asthma and congestive obstructive pulmonary disease was lower than in the control group. In addition, compared with controls, patients with asthma and congestive obstructive pulmonary disease had lower ratios of 25(OH)D3-to-vitamin D3 and higher ratios of 1α,25(OH)2D3-to-25(OH)D3 both before and after supplementation. The researchers therefore concluded that there is a dysregulation in vitamin D metabolism in these conditions.
Jolliffe DA et al. Vitamin D Metabolism is Dysregulated in Asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2020 Mar 18. [Epub ahead of print]