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

• Published in: The European respiratory journal Vol. 38; no. 6; pp. 1310 - 1319
• Main Authors: CHECKLEY, W, WEST, K. P, WISE, R. A, WU, L, LECLERQ, S. C, KHATRY, S, KATZ, J, CHRISTIAN, P, TIELSCH, J. M, SOMMER, A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Leeds Maney 01.12.2011
• Subjects: Adolescent; Asthma - epidemiology; beta Carotene - administration & dosage; Biological and medical sciences; Child; Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma; Dietary Supplements; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; Nepal - epidemiology; Pneumology; Prevalence; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Respiratory Sounds - diagnosis; Risk; Spirometry; Vitamin A - administration & dosage; Vitamins - administration & dosage; Young Adult; Nepal; Lung disease; vitamin A; Respiratory disease; Vitamin; Risk; longitudinal study; Asthma; Diet therapy; Risk factor; Bronchus disease; Clinical trial; Early; Obstructive pulmonary disease; Supplementation; randomised clinical trial; Pneumology
• ISSN: 0903-1936; 1399-3003
• DOI: 10.1183/09031936.00006911

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.