Japanese Asthma Research
STOP PRESS!
Japanese researchers have published a paper on the correlation between
vitamin A deficiency and asthma incidence.
Citation: Pediatr Int. 2006 Jun;48(3):261-4.
Authors: Mizuno Y, Furusho T, Yoshida A, Nakamura H, Matsuura T, Eto Y.
Institution Department of Pediatrics, Jikei University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan. mizuno@jikei.ac.jp
DOI Full Text ID 10.1111/j.1442-200X.2006.02200.x
PubMed® ID 16732791
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Vitamin A is an essential micronutrient with important roles in immunity and maintenance of normal epithelial cell differentiation. Little information is available regarding the relationship between vitamin A concentrations and asthma despite the repair of epithelial and other structural changes being of utmost importance for the relief of symptoms and control of the disease. The authors evaluated vitamin A and vitamin E concentrations in well-nourished children with asthma.
METHODS: The serum vitamin A and vitamin E concentrations were measured by high performance liquid chromatography methods. Statistical analysis was performed using the Mann-Whitney U-test and Peason’s correlation coefficient test.
RESULTS: According to these methods, the mean serum vitamin A concentrations were significantly lower (19.41+/-7.45 microg/dL, mean+/-SD) in asthmatic children than controls (29.52+/-11.34 microg/dL, P=0.0001). To compare the correlation of C-reactive protein and serum vitamin A concentrations, there was also significant difference between the two groups.
CONCLUSION: The data suggest that there is a correlation between vitamin A deficiency and the mechanism of asthmatic response. These data support that the mechanism of hypovitaminosis A in asthmatic children may involve not only the acute phase response but also the various degrees of chronic epithelial damage of airways.