Vitamin D deficiency as a risk factor of uncontrolled asthma
The aim of this study was to determine a relationship between IL-17, IL-10 and vitamin D concentrations and asthma control level in adult patients. Methods. This was a comparative study which involved 79 asthma patients. The patients were divided in two groups: 48 patients with good control of asthma (mean age, 52 ± 13 years; BMI, 24.9 (21.6 - 28.3) kg/m<sup>2</sup>) and 31 patients with uncontrolled asthma (mean age, 57.6 ± 7.9 years; BMI, 29.1 (27.3 - 33.6) kg/m<sup>2</sup>). Concentrations of IL-10, IL-17 and vitamin D were measured in blood serum using ELISA assay. Results. Vitamin D concentration was significantly lower in patients with uncontrolled asthma compared to well-controlled asthma. An inverse relationship was found between vitamin D and IL-17 blood concentrations but not between vitamin D and IL-10 blood concentrations. Conclusion. Serum concentration of vitamin D could be used as a predictor of asthma course and control.