Association between vitamin D levels and allergy-related outcomes vary by race and other factors

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

11-1-2015

Publication Title

The Journal of allergy and clinical immunology

Keywords

Child, Preschool, Cohort Studies, Continental Population Groups, Eczema, Female, Fetal Blood, Humans, Hypersensitivity, Immunization, Immunoglobulin E, Male, Pregnancy, Risk Factors, Vitamin D

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Allergy-related studies that include biological measurements of vitamin D preceding well-measured outcomes are needed.

OBJECTIVE: We sought to examine the associations between early-life vitamin D levels and the development of allergy-related outcomes in the racially diverse Wayne County Health, Environment, Allergy, and Asthma Longitudinal Study birth cohort.

METHODS: 25-Hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D) levels were measured in stored blood samples from pregnancy, cord blood, and age 2 years. Logistic regression models were used to calculate odds ratios (ORs) with 95% CIs for a 5 ng/mL increase in 25(OH)D levels for the following outcomes at age 2 years: eczema, skin prick tests (SPTs), increased allergen-specific IgE level (≥ 0.35 IU/mL), and doctor's diagnosis of asthma (3-6 years).

RESULTS: Prenatal 25(OH)D levels were inversely associated with eczema (OR, 0.85; 95% CI, 0.75-0.96). The association was stronger in white children (white children: OR, 0.79; 95% CI, 0.57-1.09; black children: OR, 0.96; 95% CI, 0.82-1.12), although this was not statistically significant. Cord blood 25(OH)D levels were inversely associated with having 1 or more positive SPT responses and aeroallergen sensitization. Both associations were statistically significant in white children (positive SPT response: OR, 0.50; 95% CI, 0.32-0.80; ≥ 1 aeroallergen sensitization: OR, 0.50; 95% CI, 0.28-0.92) in contrast with black children (positive SPT response: OR, 0.88; 95% CI, 0.68-1.14; ≥ 1 aeroallergen sensitization: OR, 0.85; 95% CI, 0.65-1.11). 25(OH)D levels measured concurrently with outcome assessment were inversely associated with aeroallergen sensitization (OR, 0.79; 95% CI, 0.66-0.96) only among black children (white children: OR, 1.21; 95% CI, 0.87-1.69).

CONCLUSIONS: Prenatal and cord blood 25(OH)D levels were associated with some allergy-related outcomes, with a general pattern indicating that children with higher 25(OH)D levels tend to have fewer allergy-related outcomes.

Medical Subject Headings

Child, Preschool; Cohort Studies; Continental Population Groups; Eczema; Female; Fetal Blood; Humans; Hypersensitivity; Immunization; Immunoglobulin E; Male; Pregnancy; Risk Factors; Vitamin D

PubMed ID

26078105

Volume

136

Issue

5

First Page

1309

Last Page

1314

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