Tear and serum vitamin D levels in children with allergic rhinoconjunctivitis

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Although solid cohort studies confirmed a preventative role for the anti-oxidant vitamin D in allergic asthma, a limited number of studies focused on allergic rhinoconjunctivitis (ARC). Here, we aimed to determine 25-hydroxycholecalciferol levels in tear and serum in young allergic rhinoconjunctivitis patients as compared to their apparently healthy matched controls. METHODS: In total, 22 children with allergic rhinoconjunctivitis and 31 healthy control subjects underwent serum total IgE and 25-hydroxycholecalciferol measurements. Tear levels of 25-hydroxycholecalciferol were also determined in both groups. RESULTS: The mean serum total IgE level in the ARC group (143.6 ± 132.8 IU/ml) was significantly higher than that in the control group (54.8 ± 44.1 IU/ml; p = 0.03). Serum 25(OH)D levels were significantly higher in the ARC group (34.1 ± 12.7 ng/ml) than in the healthy controls (21.8 ± 11.3 ng/ml; p = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: To our knowledge, this is the first reported study to show an association between serum 25-hydroxycholecalciferol and ARC in a childhood group. Higher levels of serum 25-hydroxycholecalciferol in children with allergic rhinoconjunctivitis may indicate a possible aetiopathogenic mechanism in the development of allergic rhinoconjunctivitis. This is also the first report to examine tear fluid vitamin D levels in paediatric ARC patient

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