Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels and incident asthma in adults: the HUNT Study

Am J Epidemiol. 2012 Dec 15;176(12):1169-76. doi: 10.1093/aje/kws235. Epub 2012 Dec 2.

Abstract

The impact of low vitamin D status on asthma development is unclear. The authors investigated the relation between the baseline serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) level and incident asthma in adults, including possible effect modification by allergy status, using allergic rhinitis as a proxy measure. A cohort of 25,616 Norwegian adults aged 19-55 years participated in 2 surveys of the Nord-Trøndelag Health Study known as HUNT 2 (1995-1997) and HUNT 3 (2006-2008). Of this cohort, a nested case-control study included 584 new-onset asthma cases and 1,958 nonasthma controls whose baseline serum 25(OH)D levels were measured. After adjustment for potential asthma risk factors, the baseline serum level of 25(OH)D (<50 nmol/L) was not significantly associated with asthma in either women (adjusted odds ratio = 0.94, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.67, 1.32) or men (adjusted odds ratio = 1.47, 95% CI: 0.93, 2.32). In men, allergic rhinitis modified the association with the adjusted odds ratio being 0.87 (95% CI: 0.36, 2.06) among men with allergic rhinitis and 2.32 (95% CI: 1.06, 5.10) among men without allergic rhinitis. The serum 25(OH)D level was not associated with incident asthma in women, regardless of allergy status. Low vitamin D status was not significantly associated with incident asthma in most adults, but it may have increased risk among men without allergy.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Asthma / epidemiology*
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Incidence
  • Logistic Models
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Multivariate Analysis
  • Norway / epidemiology
  • Prospective Studies
  • Rhinitis, Allergic
  • Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial / epidemiology
  • Risk Factors
  • Sex Distribution
  • Vitamin D / analogs & derivatives*
  • Vitamin D / blood
  • Vitamin D Deficiency / epidemiology*

Substances

  • Vitamin D
  • 25-hydroxyvitamin D