Abstract:
Vitamin D is an anti-inflammatory and immuno-modulatory secosteroid. Previous studies showed strong link
between childhood and adult onset asthma with vitamin D. Interleukin 17 is an inflammatory cytokine and plays a major
role in the worsening of asthma. The aim of this study is to compare the effects of serum vitamin D on serum IL 17 and
pulmonary function test (FVC, FEV1, FEV1/FVC) before and after oral vitamin D supplementation. Fifty severe
asthmatic patients were selected from out patient department of Chest Medicine Ward, Jinnah post graduate medical
center, Karachi. Spirometry was performed by vitalograph compact. Baseline values were as follows: serum vitamin
D=13.19±2.37ng/ml, IL-17=20.70±2.13ng/ml, FVC=2.31±0.40L, FEV1=1.40±0.28L,FEV1/FVC=60.15±4.61%.
Subjects were given 1000 IU of oral vitamin D capsule per day for six weeks. After this trial all values were found as
serum vitamin D=19.03±1.26ng/ml (p<0.001), IL 17=15.40ng/ml (p<0.001), FVC=2.90±0.60 L (p<0.001),
FEV1=2.01±0.10L (p<0.001), FEV1/FVC=63.79% ±1.45 (p<0.001). It may be concluded that improvement in serum
vitamin D levels improves the status of lung functions, decreases the airway inflammation and hence may decrease the
asthma severity.
