Most health care providers in the U.S. have determined that African-American children are more likely than other ethnic groups to experience Asthma. However, studies published by the National Institute of Health (NIH) link Asthma to Vitamin D deficiency.

A 2009 research study by Augusto A. Litonjua, MD, MPH, provided evidence that Vitamin D deficiency is associated with an increase in asthma attacks and that Vitamin D is useful in managing steroid resistant asthma. Dr. Litonjua also noted that sufficient Vitamin D levels in pregnant women resulted in young children with stronger immunity of their respiratory systems. Vitamin D plays a protective role in preventing wheezing and respiratory infections.

A 2011 research study by Sif Hansdottir, MD, MS and Martha M. Monica, PhD, showed that Vitamin D is an essential nutrient helping the cells that line the lungs and respiratory tract to prevent infection. We get Vitamin D from skin exposure to sunlight and to a lesser extent from our diet. Vitamin D can be obtained from cod liver oil, eggs, orange juice, Vitamin D enriched milk, fish—salmon, tuna, sardines, catfish.

These studies described above, give evidence that Asthma has little to do with ethnicity and more to do with diet and environmental factors. Nutrition deficiency and environmental factors are the main causes of Asthma, not race. Environmental triggers include: cigarette smoke, roaches, dust, air pollution. Asthma has become a global health problem. The Global Burden of Asthma Report, commissioned by the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) estimates Asthma will affect 100 million people worldwide by 2025. The Global Burden of Asthma Report made a comprehensive study of 80 countries worldwide.

GINA created an annual World Asthma Day to make Asthma prevention a world priority and has announced that day to be the first Tuesday of each May. For information about World Asthma Day and GINA visit: www.ginasthma.org

With westernized diets and environmental triggers, incidences of Asthma in Africa has increased among people living urban areas. Incidence of Asthma in rural areas remains low. Asthma in African countries has also been linked to Vitamin D deficiency in communities were Rickets (a Vitamin D Deficiency that causes weakness in long bones leading to “bowed legs”) is experienced.

Maintaining adequate Vitamin D levels holds a promising role in prevention of Asthma. Several clinical trials are on going that are looking at vitamin D and asthma, ranging from maternal supplementation during pregnancy and prevention of childhood asthma to the use of vitamin D as a treatment in child and adult individuals with asthma. For more information concerning research on Asthma, go to www.clinicaltrials.gov.

For more information on Asthma visit: kidcity.com and mytrialforasthma.com.