Role of Vitamin D in Bronchial Asthma in Eastern India: A Case Control Study

Background: Thus the aim of our study was to study the role of serum vitamin D levels between asthmatic and non-asthmatic subjects in Eastern India and its role in the development of bronchial asthma. Materials & Methods: Approximately 5 ml venous blood samples were obtained from the patients as well as controls. Non-fasting serum samples of control and asthma subjects were analyzed for routine biochemical parameters immediately after collection while aliquots of the samples were also stored at - 200 C for the assay of 25-hydroxyvitamin D or IgE. 25-hydroxyvitamin D or IgE was assayed by using commercially available immunoassay ELISA kits. Results: There was no significant difference in age, sex distribution or BMI in either of the two groups between asthma and control subjects. Moreover, serum 25 OH vitamin D levels were lower in bronchial asthma cases as compared to controls and were statistically significant (12.83 ± 8.44 versus 25.34 ± 7.29 ng/ml; P < 0.001). However, serum IgE level was found significantly higher among bronchial asthma subjects with respect to controls (668.2 ± 247.3 versus 143.8 ± 72.06 IU/l; P < 0.001). Conclusion: Our study has seen drastically decrease in serum vitamin D levels in bronchial asthma and also observed an increase in IgE levels as compared to control subjects. Our study showed higher serum IgE levels in bronchial asthma subjects. There might be a link between total IgE and asthma, which appears to be independent of allergen sensitization.