Treating COPD with vitamin D
Low vitamin D levels are associated with reduced lung function (FEV1), impaired immunologic control, and increased airway inflammation.
Many patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) have vitamin D deficiency. So, researchers at the University Hospitals Leuven, in Belgium, studied whether supplementation with high doses of vitamin D could reduce the incidence of COPD exacerbations.
First, the details.
- 182 patients with moderate to very severe COPD and a history of recent exacerbations were assigned to a treatment group for a year.
- 100,000 IU of vitamin D supplementation every 4 weeks
- Placebo
- The main outcome measured was time to first exacerbation.
- In addition, exacerbation rate, time to first hospitalization, time to second exacerbation, FEV1 (forced expiratory volume in 1 second), quality of life, and death were recorded.
- Neither the patients nor researchers knew the treatment given — double blind.
And, the results.
- Average 25-(OH)D levels increased significantly in the vitamin D group vs the placebo group.
- The time to first exacerbation did not significantly differ between the groups, nor did exacerbation rates, FEV1, hospitalization, quality of life, and death.
- However, in 30 participants with severe vitamin D deficiency (less than 10 ng/mL) before treatment there was a significant reduction in exacerbations in the vitamin D group.
The bottom line?
The authors concluded, “High-dose vitamin D supplementation in a sample of patients with COPD did not reduce the incidence of exacerbations. In participants with severe vitamin D deficiency at baseline, supplementation may reduce exacerbations.”
Confirmation in patients with severe vitamin D deficiency is needed.
1/18/12 22:36 JR
