Vitamin D AND ASTHMA 

Asthma and vitamin D are becoming more and more linked, as multiple other inflammatory diseases. What connection do they have with one another? And how would vitamin D improve the overall prognosis of asthmatic patients? In this article, we will thoroughly explore this.

What is Asthma?

Asthma is a long-term condition that affects the airways in the lungs. In which your airways become narrow due to inflammation and tightness of the muscles around the small airways, creating additional unneeded amounts of mucus is another bothersome problem as well, which will eventually make it difficult to breathe and cause coughing, wheezing on exhalation, and shortness of breath.

Although there is no known cure for asthma, patients can live fulfilling lives with the help of medications and effective management.

Asthma in Jordan

 At the beginning of this century, Jordan revealed a notable increase in the number of physician-diagnosed asthmatics. Globally, the WHO reports announced clearly that “Asthma is under-diagnosed and under-treated, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.”

Now the question is, Does vitamin D help to control asthma exacerbation?

People are now aware of the importance of vitamin D for keeping bones healthy and strong. Moreover, scientists and doctors are getting to know the different influential roles of it in the human body. In addition to its known impact on the skeletal system, it has a significant effect on controlling immunological response and inflammation.

Research has shown an essential correlation between both of them. Asthmatic patients with low vitamin D levels were given supplement doses that resulted in a significant improvement in prognosis. Which assured that higher Vitamin D levels are linked to lower inflammatory markers and lower airway hyperresponsiveness. Asthmatic patients with low serum vitamin D levels experience more severe symptoms and more frequent exacerbations, with decreased lung function, increased drug use, and a more complicated form of the condition. 

The process is not clearly known, but they refer this impact to its positive impact on controlling the inflammatory response in the human body, and its antimicrobial effect that may improve lung health since attacks are triggered and worsened by respiratory infections.

Vitamin D prophylactic and treatment doses

It is recommended to take 1,000 to 2,000 IU per day as prophylaxis or as a maintenance dose, and 5,000 IU tablets up to 50,000 IU tablets in the treatment of vitamin D deficiency, depending on an individual’s blood level.

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Vitamin D and Pregnancy

If you’re pregnant, you’ve probably heard how important vitamin D is for your health and your fetus’s development. Having a baby is just the beginning of expecting some of the most precious moments in life. It often inspires women to seek guidance on how to have a safe pregnancy and a healthier lifestyle. In this article, we’ll clearly show how vitamin D affects both the health of the mother and the developing fetus.

During your pregnancy, your baby gets all the necessary nutrients from you. All nutrients are essential, but vitamins in particular play a key role in your fetus’s growth, such as B12, folic acid, and vitamin D.

Alongside its importance to the human body, pregnant women, in particular, need to make sure of their vitamin D levels. Researchers have found that vitamin D in pregnancy impacts many biological systems. It will prevent pregnancy complications such as preeclampsia, preterm birth, and gestational diabetes.

Vitamin D is not only essential for your health, but It’s also very vital for your fetus’s development. Severe maternal deficiency has been related to serious complications including 

disordered skeletal homeostasis, congenital rickets, and newborn fractures.

 Vitamin D is necessary for your body to maintain healthy levels of calcium and phosphorus as well, which aid in the development of your baby’s bones and teeth. In addition to that, researchers discovered that infants born to mothers who took a daily vitamin D supplement had a lower risk of wheezing.

Other studies have found that women who took up to 2,000 IU each day had above 50% percent lower chance of having an underweight infant. It will also prevent many illnesses from developing in the newborn later in life.

Getting 20 minutes of daily sunshine and staying physically active will assist in raising its levels. It could be found in eggs, fatty fish, and some fortified meals, but it might be challenging to get enough from food alone. And it is unlikely your prenatal vitamins provide enough amounts of it. Vitamin D supplements can help ensure a sufficient supply for your fetus by starting in preconception or early pregnancy.

The recommended doses for pregnant women range from 1000–2000 (IU) per day as a prophylaxis and maintenance dose. Higher doses like 5,000 IU may be used for the treatment of its deficiency. Consult your healthcare professional for advice on how much you need during pregnancy.

References:

Vitamins and other nutrients during pregnancy (marchofdimes.org)

Vitamin D Deficiency in Pregnant Women and Their Infants – PMC (nih.gov)

Vitamin D and pregnancy, vitamin D deficiency in pregnancy | BabyCenter

 https://www.acog.org/clinical/clinical-guidance/committee-opinion/articles/2011/07/vitamin-d-screening-and-supplementation-during-pregnancy#:~:text=When%20vitamin%20D%20deficiency%20is,of%20vitamin%20D%20is%20safe.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5838372/#:~:text=The%20lack%20of%20vitamin%20D,preeclampsia%20(12%2C13)

Neurodevelopmental effects of prenatal vitamin D in humans: systematic review and meta-analysis | Molecular Psychiatry (nature.com)

Vitamin D supplementation during pregnancy: double-blind, randomized clinical trial of safety and effectiveness – PubMed (nih.gov)

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Lack of Vitamin D is a Significant Worldwide Health Problem

The latest studies show that about one billion people around the world are deficient in vitamin D, which is essential for the health of many parts of the human body, such as bones, muscles, the brain, and nerves.

Vitamin D deficiency in Jordan

More than 56% of Jordanian children suffer from vitamin D deficiency, and here the importance of raising awareness among parents about how to prevent and treat their children when necessary becomes clear.

Lack of Vitamin D in Children

Vitamin D deficiency in children leads to complications that affect the normal development of the child, including:

1- Weak bones and rickets

2- muscle weakness (difficulty standing and walking)

The importance of vitamin D for children

Vitamin D supports the health of the body in general, and its most important benefits are:

1- Helps the body absorb calcium and phosphorous from food.

2- Necessary for building strong bones and skeletal growth.

3- Contributes to healthy muscle growth and supports normal muscle function.

4- It enhances the performance of the immune system.

5- Necessary for the health and growth of the brain and nerves

Health problems associated with vitamin D deficiency

Vitamin D deficiency in children increases the likelihood of developing some health problems, including:

1- Microbial infections of all kinds

2- Asthma

3- Issues with learning and memory

4- Diabetes 5. Autism

Vitamin D doses for children

Preventive dose

The preventive dose for children 1 year of age and older is usually 1,000 international units daily.

therapeutic dose

As for the therapeutic dose, it is usually 2000 international units daily for a month and a half, and then the child continues on the preventive dose.

Due to the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency, taking it in preventive doses is essential, but be sure to check with the doctor or pharmacist closest to you before taking therapeutic doses.

If your child suffers from obesity or any other health problems, or if he is taking other medications, make sure to consult the doctor or pharmacist closest to you before giving him any dose of vitamin D, especially if the child has obesity, other health problems, or is taking other medications.

In conclusion, vitamin D deficiency is a significant global health concern, with widespread implications for both children and adults. The alarming prevalence of this deficiency, particularly in Jordanian children, underscores the need for increased awareness and preventive measures. Adequate vitamin D levels are crucial for the normal growth and development of children, supporting bone health, muscle function, immune system strength, and cognitive abilities. By recognizing the importance of vitamin D and seeking appropriate guidance from healthcare professionals, we can effectively address this issue and improve the overall health and well-being of individuals worldwide.

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Vitamin D and Your Child’s Health

Vitamin D is one of the essential vitamins for your child’s normal growth, in addition to the fact that vitamin D deficiency and the health problems resulting from it are the most common among children. In this article, we will explain to you the importance of vitamin D to your child’s health, the symptoms of vitamin D deficiency, and how to prevent vitamin D deficiency in children.

Vitamin D is essential for your child’s health

Children’s bodies need vitamin D primarily to grow healthy and it has a major role in

1- Vitamin D is essential for normal bone and tooth growth, and its deficiency causes rickets, osteomalacia, and bone deformation

2- Vitamin D is one of the most important vitamins for brain development and growth, and its deficiency causes a lack of focus and poor problem-solving ability in children.

3- Studies indicate that vitamin D helps to raise the body’s immunity and prevent infections.

Symptoms of Vitamin D deficiency in your child’s health

Your child’s health is negatively affected by vitamin D deficiency. Moreover, they usually have asymptomatic, but in cases of severe deficiency, some signs and symptoms may become apparent:

1- Musculoskeletal and bone pain

2- Difficulty walking or standing up

3- Convulsions

4– Feeling unexplained fatigue and exhaustion

Tips to prevent your child from having a vitamin D deficiency

Given the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency and the severity of the symptoms resulting from it, we advise you to take the following steps to protect your child’s health:

1- Encourage your child to spend some time in the sun every day.

2- Provide your child with vitamin-rich meals.

3- Utilize Vitamin D Supplements

4- Make sure to consult with a doctor and perform the necessary tests if your child complains of some symptoms of vitamin D deficiency.

Causes of Vitamin D deficiency

You know from reading this article that vitamin D is very essential for your child’s normal growth, but its deficiency is common for several reasons, including:

1- Children are not exposed enough to sun rays

2- children do not consume nutritious, well-balanced foods.

Foods containing vitamin D

Malnutrition is one of the causes of vitamin D deficiency, so be sure to supplement your child’s diet with foods that contain vitamin D to enhance his physical and mental health, such as: 

• Yolk

• Fatty fish

• Fortified milk and dairy products

• Fortified juices, corn, and grains

• Some veggies (e.g. broccoli, and mushrooms)

The body may not get enough vitamin D from foods alone, because they contain trace amounts that do not come close to meeting the daily requirement of vitamin D.

Exposure to sun rays provides you with vitamin D.

Sun rays are the main source of vitamin D, as the body manufactures it as a result of skin exposure to direct sun rays.

By adhering to the following procedures, you make sure that your child is properly exposed to the sun and gets vitamin D without harm.

1- Wearing clothes that expose a good portion of the body (although exposing the face and hands alone will not cure vitamin D deficiency, it may alleviate it).

2- Avoid sunburn, avoid prolonged exposure to the sun; a 15-30 minutes exposure is sufficient, it varies according to skin color, the darker the skin, the more time it takes

3-  Avoid wearing sunscreen because it prevents vitamin D absorption.

4-  Exposure to direct sun rays rather than through a closed window.

5-  The appropriate time for exposure to the sun varies from region to region and changes with the change of seasons. Where the rays that help in the manufacture of vitamin D are available in the summer and spring, and less in the winter and autumn, these rays are often available between ten in the morning and two at noon.

With best wishes for the continued health and wellness of you and your child, remember that your attention and follow-up on your child’s health will prevent him from having many health problems.

References:

– https://www.nuh.nhs.uk/vitamin-d-deficiency-in-children/

– https://www.webteb.com/articles/%D9%81%D9%8A%D8%AA%D8%A7%D9%85%D9%8A%D9%86-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B4%D9%85%D8%B3_27332

– https://www.mayoclinic.org/ar/drugs-supplements-vitamin-d/art-20363792#:~:text=%D9%81%D9%8A%D8%AA%D8%A7%D9%85%D9%8A%D9%86%20D%20%D9%87%D9%88%20%D8%A3%D8%AD%D8%AF%20%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B9%D9%86%D8%A7%D8%B5%D8%B1,%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%88%D8%B8%D8%A7%D8%A6%D9%81%20%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A3%D8%AE%D8%B1%D9%89%20%D9%81%D9%8A%20%D8%AE%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%8A%D8%A7%20%D8%AC%D8%B3%D9%85%D9%83

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