Youth Incorporated Magazine

Recent studies suggest that higher levels of Vitamin D can help people suffering from asthma , a common chronic disease and be more resistant towards harmful indoor air pollution. The signs of asthma include wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, and shortness of breath. In An asthma attack, the airway becomes clogged with mucus that further cuts off the airflow which might result in death if not treated properly.

The role of Vitamin D has grown in the arena of asthma management, as it might help reduce upper respiratory infections like the common cold that could further lead to aggravation of asthma.

Previous scientific studies have pointed towards the fact that Vitamin D molecules may influence asthma by impacting antioxidant or immune-related pathways. Researchers have detected that having low Vitamin D levels would give rise to harmful respiratory problems from sources such as cooking, smoking, burning of candles, and incense.

But in homes that had the highest level of indoor air pollution, children suffered less from respiratory problems because of their high Vitamin D levels. These effects were more pronounced among obese children.

A third factor is at play here- the obesity epidemic- which helps to bring light to the risks when considering a person’s vulnerability to asthma.

According to a study published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, the researchers tested three factors in 120 school children with pre-existing asthma.

1. Air pollution levels at home
2. Vitamin D levels in blood stream
3. Asthma symptoms

One-third of these children were obese.

A natural way to increase Vitamin D levels is to increase the sun exposure, but that may be difficult in urban environments or in dark skin pigmented people. A second way to influence Vitamin D levels is by inculcation dietary supplements or eating foods that are high in Vitamin D like mushrooms, fatty fish, bread, orange juice, milk, etc.

Researchers from Queen Mary University of London stated that the risk of experiencing an asthma attack requiring a visit to emergency room is cut into half, with the taking of oral Vitamin D supplements along with asthma medications. The impact of Vitamin D is almost equivalent to the achievements attained by expensive antibody therapies, according to researchers.

It is still unclear whether Vitamin D supplements can reduce risks of Asthma attacks in all patients or just the people who have low vitamin D levels to start with. Vitamin D is inexpensive and safe, which makes it a highly lucrative mediation. Researchers hope that the use of vitamin D in along with regular asthma medications will improve the quality of life for those living with asthma.