Abstract
Background: Suboptimal vitamin D levels during critical periods of immune development associated with lifestyle-changes and living at higher latitudes have emerged as an explanation for the dramatically increasing incidence of allergic disease. However, randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are lacking. This study aims to explore the effects of early vitamin D supplementation and sunlight exposure in infancy on allergy outcomes within the first 2.5 years of life and very early immunedevelopment.
Method:195 high-risk infants were orally supplemented with either placebo or 400 IU vitamin D/day until 6 months of age in a Double-Blind-RCT. An ultraviolet (UV)-dosimeter was worn to measure direct UV-light-exposure (290-380 nm). Vitamin D levels were measured at 3, 6,12 and 30 months of age. Immune function outcomes were assessed at6 months, food allergy, eczema and wheeze at 6, 12 and 30 months and allergic rhinitis at 30 months.
Results: Vitamin D levels were higher for the vitamin D supplemented than the placebo group at three (p < 0.001) and six (p=0.023) months of age, however no difference was seen in food allergy, eczema, wheeze or allergic rhinitis incidence between groups for the first 2.5 years of life. Infants without eczema within the first 2.5 years of life were found to have had more UV light exposure (median (IQR)) 998 (676-1577) J/m2com-pared to those with eczema 555 (322-1210) J/m2,p=0.023. UV light exposure was also inversely correlated with IL-2, eotaxin production, GMCSF and to Toll-like receptor ligands.
Summary: This first RCT on vitamin D supplementation in infancy showed no influence on allergy outcomes in early childhood. However, we demonstrate an association between higher direct UV-light-exposures in the first 3 months of life with lower incidence of pro-inflammatory immune markers by 6 months of age and eczema outcome over thefirst2.5 years.
Conclusion: UV-light-exposure appears more beneficial than vitamin D supplementation in influencing immune development and prevent from eczema development in early childhood.
Method:195 high-risk infants were orally supplemented with either placebo or 400 IU vitamin D/day until 6 months of age in a Double-Blind-RCT. An ultraviolet (UV)-dosimeter was worn to measure direct UV-light-exposure (290-380 nm). Vitamin D levels were measured at 3, 6,12 and 30 months of age. Immune function outcomes were assessed at6 months, food allergy, eczema and wheeze at 6, 12 and 30 months and allergic rhinitis at 30 months.
Results: Vitamin D levels were higher for the vitamin D supplemented than the placebo group at three (p < 0.001) and six (p=0.023) months of age, however no difference was seen in food allergy, eczema, wheeze or allergic rhinitis incidence between groups for the first 2.5 years of life. Infants without eczema within the first 2.5 years of life were found to have had more UV light exposure (median (IQR)) 998 (676-1577) J/m2com-pared to those with eczema 555 (322-1210) J/m2,p=0.023. UV light exposure was also inversely correlated with IL-2, eotaxin production, GMCSF and to Toll-like receptor ligands.
Summary: This first RCT on vitamin D supplementation in infancy showed no influence on allergy outcomes in early childhood. However, we demonstrate an association between higher direct UV-light-exposures in the first 3 months of life with lower incidence of pro-inflammatory immune markers by 6 months of age and eczema outcome over thefirst2.5 years.
Conclusion: UV-light-exposure appears more beneficial than vitamin D supplementation in influencing immune development and prevent from eczema development in early childhood.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | P70 |
| Pages (from-to) | 24-25 |
| Number of pages | 2 |
| Journal | Internal Medicine Journal |
| Volume | 51 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Oct 2021 |