Supplementation with vitamin A early in life and subsequent risk of asthma

W. Checkley, K. P. West, R. A. Wise, L. Wu, S. C. LeClerq, S. Khatry, J. Katz, P. Christian, J. M. Tielsch, A. Sommer

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

30 Scopus citations

Abstract

Animal models suggest that vitamin A deficiency affects lung development adversely and promotes airway hyperresponsiveness, and may predispose to an increased risk of asthma. We examined the long-term effects of vitamin A supplementation early in life on later asthma risk. In 2006-2008, we revisited participants from two cohorts in rural Nepal who were enrolled in randomised trials of vitamin A supplementation. The first cohort received vitamin A or placebo for <16 months during their pre-school years (1989-1991). The second cohort was born to mothers who received vitamin A, β-carotene or placebo before, during and after pregnancy (1994-1997). At follow-up, we asked about asthma symptoms and performed spirometry. Out of 6,421 subjects eligible to participate, 5,430 (85%) responded to our respiratory survey. Wheezing prevalence during the previous year was 4.8% in participants aged 9-13 yrs and 6.6% in participants aged 14-23 yrs. We found no differences between the vitamin A supplemented and placebo groups from either trial in the prevalence of lifetime or current asthma and wheeze or in spirometric indices of obstruction (p≥0.12 for all comparisons). Vitamin A supplementation early in life was not associated with a decreased risk of asthma in an area with chronic vitamin A deficiency. Copyright

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1310-1319
Number of pages10
JournalEuropean Respiratory Journal
Volume38
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 1 2011

Keywords

  • Asthma
  • Longitudinal study
  • Randomised clinical trial
  • Vitamin A

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine

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