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Journal of Clinical Nutrition & Dietetics
ISSN:2472-1921
3
r d
W o r l d C o n g r e s s o n
Nutrition, Dietetics
and Nutraceuticals
F e b r u a r y 2 5 - 2 6 , 2 0 1 9
P r a g u e , C z e c h R e p u b l i c
World Nutrition 2019
V
itamin D is a potent immunomodulator capable of dampening inflammatory
signals in cells involved in the allergic response including asthma. However,
evidence supporting a link between low vitamin D levels in children and higher
risk of asthma exacerbations and poor lung function is inconsistent. The
objective of this clinical trial was to investigate the potential role of vitamin D
status in asthmatic children following a Mediterranean diet intervention. Greek
asthmatic children aged 5-12 years old (51.6%male, 48.4% girls) were recruited
from a pediatric asthma clinic in Athens, Greece and randomized into two
groups. The intervention group consumed a Mediterranean diet plus two meals
of fatty fish per week (≥150g cooked filleted fish/meal) for six months and
the control, their usual diet. Pulmonary function and bronchial inflammation
were assessed using spirometry and Fractional exhaled Nitric Oxide analysis
(FeNO). Serum vitamin D status was measured using Enzyme-Linked Immuno
Assay (ELISA). Vitamin D deficiency was defined at serum 25-0H D <25 ng/mL.
At baseline, 64% of children (61% girls, 39% boys) were deficient in vitamin D.
Multiple linear regression model adjusted for confounding factors of age, sex,
regular physical activity and BMI showed that children in the intervention group
with sufficient plasma vitamin D levels at baseline had increased FEV1/FVC by
4.89 units (β=4.89; 95% CI: 1.19-8.61; p=0.013) and FEF25-75% by 12.83 units
(β= 12.83; 95% CI: 4.27-21.40; p=0.006) as compared to the control group. No
associations were observed for children deficient in vitamin D or for FeNO. In
conclusion, consumption of Mediterranean diet supplemented with fatty fish
significantly improved pulmonary function in asthmatic children with plasma
vitamin D levels ≥25 ng/mL. More intervention studies are recommended
to support the promising findings and to further clarify the role of vitamin D
status in the management of asthma in children.
Biography
Maria M Papamichael is a Registered Dietician/Sports
Nutritionist with the British Dietetic Association who has
dedicated her life in educating people, the importance of good
nutrition and exercise in the prevention and management
of disease as well as in improving health and well-being. She
completed her masters in Human Nutrition/Sports Nutrition
(PhDc) from La Trobe University, Australia. She is a Specialist
on the Mediterranean diet and asthma. She has undertaken a
PhD research project at La Trobe University investigating the
prophylactic potential of a Mediterranean diet enriched with
fatty fish in the management of asthma in children.
sassipap@hotmail.comThe importance of vitamin D status on lung function in
asthmatic children
Maria M Papamichael
1
, Katrina Lambert
1
, Dimitris Tsoukalas
3
,
Michael Koutsilieris
2
, Charis Katsardis
2
, Bircan Erbas
1
and
Catherine Itsiopoulos
1
1
La Trobe University, Australia
2
National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece
3
European Institute of Nutritional Medicine, Italy
Maria M Papamichael et al., J Clin Nutr Diet 2019, Volume: 5
DOI: 10.4172/2472-1921-C1-005