STUDY OF VITAMIN D LEVELS AND ITS CORRELATION WITH BMI IN ASTHMATIC FEMALES

Background: Asthma is amongst the commonest chronic diseases worldwide. It is an atopic disease characterized by chronic airway inflammation and hyper-responsiveness. Vitamin D has a role as immunomodulator by interacting with T lymphocytes, dendritic cells, mast cells, monocytes and macrophages. Vitamin D receptor is present in the bronchial smooth muscle. Vitamin D alters the airway smooth muscle expression of chemokines and inhibits the expression of a steroid resistant gene. Vitamin D deficiency has been correlated with elevated BMI . Aims and objective: To estimate Vitamin D levels in asthmatic females (cases) and non-Asthmatic females (controls) and to establish a correlation between Vitamin D and BMI. Method: The study was conducted in Govt. Medical College, Kota and attached group of hospitals during December 2014 to January 2016. A total of 60 females of age group between 20 - 40 years were included, out of which 28 females were healthy as control and 32 were diagnosed cases of asthma. Estimation of vitamin D (25OH vitamin D) was done by Chemiluminescence in Hormonal Assay Lab Biochemistry Department Govt. Medical College, Kota. Serum level of vitamin D were categorized into normal (?30 ng /ml or 75 nmol/l), insufficient (? 20 to <30 ng/ml) and deficient (< 20 ng/ml or 50nmol/l). Results: Vitamin D deficiency (<20 ng /ml) was seen in 18.7% of cases and 14.2% of controls. P value is <0.05 which is significant. The Pearson’s correlation between Vitamin D and BMI (r= -0.50). By this study we conclude that Vitamin D deficiency is more prevalent in asthmatic patients. There is a negative correlation between Vitamin D and BMI. Serum vitamin D could be considered in the routine investigation of patients with asthma.