Serum vitamin A concentrations in asthmatic children in Japan

• Published in: Pediatrics international 2006-06, Vol.48 (3), p.261-264
• Main Authors: MIZUNO, YASUTAKA, FURUSHO, TADASU, YOSHIDA, AI, NAKAMURA, HIRONORI, MATSUURA, TOMOKAZU, ETO, YOSHIKATSU
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: acute phase response; asthma; Asthma - blood; Case-Control Studies; cell adhension molecules; Child; Child, Preschool; children; Female; Humans; Infant; Japan; Male; vitamin A; Vitamin A - blood; Vitamin E - blood
• ISSN: 1328-8067; 1442-200X
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1442-200X.2006.02200.x

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 μg/dL, mean ± SD) in asthmatic children than controls (29.52 ± 11.34 μg/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 epitherial damage of airways.