Vitamin D deficiency and level of asthma control and severity in an adult population in Morocco

Abstract

Vitamin D plays a critical role in immune modulation, with implications for the severity and control of asthma. The study included 174 asthmatic patients aged 18-65 whose serum 25(OH)D3 levels and their relationship with asthma severity, control, and lung function were assessed. The prevalence of hypovitaminosis D was 64%, with 36.3% of patients having normal levels, 29.8% insufficient, and 33.9% deficient. Lower vitamin D levels were significantly associated with increased asthma severity (p=0.04) and poorer asthma control (p=0.03). Patients with severe asthma had mean 25(OH)D3 levels of 24.1±11.8 ng/mL, compared to 32.5±13.1 ng/mL in patients with non-severe asthma. Controlled asthma was linked with higher vitamin D levels (28.3±12.5 ng/mL) compared to partially controlled (24.7±10.8 ng/mL) and uncontrolled asthma (23.3±12.1 ng/mL). A non-significant trend was observed toward reduced Forced Expiratory Volume in One Second (FEV1) in vitamin D-deficient patients. Vitamin D deficiency is significantly associated with asthma control level and severity, underscoring the need for further research on the therapeutic potential of vitamin D in asthma management.