New Study Links Insufficient Vitamin D To Severe Asthma Attacks

A new study, over a four-year period, conducted by researchers led by Dr. Augusto A. Litongua, associated with Harvard Medical School in Boston, links vitamin D insufficiency to severe asthma attacks in children. It suggests asthmatic children with relatively low vitamin D levels in their blood may be exposed to higher risk of suffering acute asthma attacks in comparison to those better stocked up on the vitamin. Vitamin D can be synthesized in the skin naturally on exposure to sunlight. However, extended winters and sun avoidance during summer may lead to vitamin D deficiency in many kids. Also, people with darker skin, like African Americans, evidence reduced efficiency in synthesizing vitamin D and are, hence, more at risk than whites. Moreover, overweight children as also adults appear to be more at risk of deficiency since lesser amounts of vitamin D, which is stored in body fat, can enter the bloodstream, where it can stay active.

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