A research institute in London is examining the effect of supplementing Vitamin D to treat children with asthma in an effort to reduce the severity of flare-ups.
The Children's Health Research Institute is investigating whether Vitamin D, added to the standard treatment of daily inhaled corticosteroid (commonly known as a cortisone puffer), can reduce the severity and frequency of asthma flare-ups for children between the ages of one and five.
Smaller studies in the past have shown that Vitamin D has a protective effect, reducing the need for inhalers by up to 37 per cent, and emergency department visits by over 60 per cent, with no adverse effects. However, the data remains insufficient for preschool children and more research is required for validation.
“If confirmed, this finding could have a significant impact on how asthma in young children is managed," said Dr. Dirk Bock, an associate scientist at the Lawson Health Research Institute, and a paediatrician at the Children’s Hospital at London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC).
As the most common chronic childhood disease, asthma affects around 10 per cent of all children in Canada. Common symptoms include wheezing, coughing and shortness of breath.
“Over 80 per cent of asthma exacerbations in children are triggered by viral upper respiratory tract infections, such as the common cold. Preschool-age children have a higher rate of emergency department visits and hospitalizations than any other age group,” said Dr. Bock, who is leading the study locally.
Children participating in the study will be randomly assigned to one of two groups and will either receive a high-dose Vitamin D supplement or a placebo. Both groups will receive the same level of standard care as part of the study protocol.
