Vitamin D.

Asthma • Kids with the lowest vitamin D levels in one study needed the highest doses of inhaled steroids to control their asthma • Half of all asthmatics in Denver from Jan-March were shown to be deficient in vitamin D • Higher vitamin D intake by pregnant mothers reduces asthma risk by up to 40% in children age 3-5 years old Allergies • A low level of vitamin D at age 6 was associated with increased allergies and asthma at age 14 in one study from Australia • Kids and adolescents with vitamin D deficiency had more allergic antibodies • A large study showed that vitamin D deficiency was specifically associated with allergies to oak tree, ragweed pollen and peanut allergy in kids • Adding Vitamin D to use of nasal steroids improved symptoms in one study of adults • Patients with adequate vitamin D receiving allergy shots had a better response than those with deficient stores of vitamin D Food Allergy • Newborns with vitamin D insufficiency or deficiency at age 1 had more food allergies than those who had adequate amounts of vitamin D Eczema • Vitamin D supplements have shown benefit in improving skin integrity as well as the natural immune system of the skin