Vitamin D Deficiency Common In Lung Disease Patients

Approximately 80 percent of patients with COPD had low levels of vitamin D, suggesting a link to lung function.

AsianScientist (May 4, 2015) – A new study from Korea has uncovered a high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in individuals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), as well as a significant relationship between vitamin D deficiency and airflow limitations. Exercise capacity also tended to be decreased in participants with vitamin D deficiency. Their findings have been published in the journal Respirology.

In their study, the researchers from Yonsei University College of Medicine and University of Ulsan College of Medicine observed 193 patients with COPD. The plasma level of 25-OH vitamin D3 (25-OH-VitD3) was measured every year along with various clinical parameters such as lung function, 6-min walking (6MW) distance, quality of life, exacerbations and emphysema index. It was found that there was a high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in Korean patients with COPD and a significant relationship between vitamin D deficiency and airflow limitation.

“About 80 percent of the 193 patients with COPD in the study had vitamin D deficiency compared with 40 percent to 60 percent of Koreans in the general population,” said Professor Lee Sang-Do, senior author of the study.

For those who had vitamin D deficiency, it was found that exercise capacity tended to be decreased in the vitamin D deficiency group.

The article can be found at: Jung et al. (2015) Relationship Of Vitamin D Status With Lung Function And Exercise Capacity In COPD.

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Source: Wiley; Photo: Bradley Stemke/Flickr/CC.
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