Western Australian new findings on Vitamin D deficiency and childhood asthma
Australian research has found that children with vitamin D deficiency are more likely to develop asthma.
Researchers at Murdoch Childrens Research Institute (MCRI) tracked vitamin D levels in Perth, West Australia, of children at high risk for asthma and allergy from birth to age 10. They found that repeated bouts of vitamin D deficiency in early childhood were linked to higher rates of asthma at age 10, as well as allergy and eczema.
Professor Katie Allen of MCRI says “We believe that vitamin D supplementation trials in infancy are essential to answer this important health question.”
Although the study did not explore all the causes, Australian Food News notes that a highly successful anti-skin cancer campaign and the increasing time spent indoors has previously been found to be associated with increasing vitamin D deficiency in Australia.
Vitamin D is recognised as an important immune regulator and Australian Food News has previously reported calls for it to be added to bread and milk in Australia.
Margarine in Australia and New Zealand is vitamin D fortified but despite this and the abundance of sunshine in Australia, Vitamin D deficiency is one of Australia’s most common vitamin deficiencies.
Australia also has one of the highest rates in the developed world of allergic disease, including food allergies.
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