Vitamin D and modulation of Allergic Rhinitis

Background Allergic rhinitis is a common health problem caused by an immune-mediated inflammatory reaction after allergen exposure. It is not a life-threatening condition but in most cases it interferes with the patient's personal life and imposes a substantial burden on public health in economic terms. Vitamin D deficiency has been blamed as a cause of increased incidence of asthma and allergy symptoms. The significant impairment of quality of life and morbidity caused by allergic rhinitis, and the easily-treated vitamin D deficiency with which it may be associated, motivated the design of this study. Aims& Objectives To evaluate nasal symptom scores in patients of AR, pre- and post-treatment with and without supplementation of vitamin D. Materials and Methods Vitamin D levels were assessed in 27 patients with AR diagnosed clinically and evaluated prospectively during the period of 3 months. The study included patients with allergic rhinitis, who were referred to the Hospital (for routine visits) during a three month period between January 2016 and March 2016. Allergic rhinitis patients were diagnosed clinically using Allergic Rhinitis and its Impact on Asthma (ARIA) 2008 criteria during a medical visit. They received oral vitamin D (chole-calciferol, 1000 IU) for a given period. The results were compared with the patients having AR - treated conventionally without supplementation of vitamin D. Results Clinical improvement in terms of reduction in the total nasal symptom score was significant in the post-treatment patients. Conclusion Supplementation of vitamin D in such patients alters natural course of AR toward significant clinical improvement.