DOI: 10.36347/sjams.2021.v09i01.003

Pages: 14-20

Vitamin D is a steroid hormone synthesized in the skin through sunlight exposure or ingested through the diet. In its active form, 1, 25-dihydroxyvitamin D (1, 25[OH] D) is involved in defense against viral, bacterial, and mycobacterial infections in pulmonary tissues and in down-regulating inflammation by decreasing chemokine and cytokine production. The anti inflammatory actions of 1,25(OH)D have also been shown in in vitro models of lung tissue; when inflamed airway smooth muscle cells are treated with increasing doses of 1,25(OH)D, they exhibit dose-dependent decreases in the production of inflammatory cytokine. Methods: This was an Analytical, Case control study carried out in pediatrics departments of Nazareth hospital, Shillong, Meghalaya, India. Results: Mean Vitamin D levels were normally distributed among the children: the mean vitamin D level was 26.50 ng/mL (SE: 0.95) and the median vitamin D level was 26.27 ng/mL. The mean for cases and controls were, respectively, 25.98 ng/mL and 27.02 ng/mL. In entire cohort, 49.5% of all children were vitamin D deficient and among them 14% were severe vitamin D deficient. No significant difference in mean serum 25 (OH) D level was found among cases as compared to controls, no significant association was found between respiratory diseases in children of 2 month to 60 months with low serum vitamin D levels. Respiratory complications were found more in Vitamin D deficient group, P-value calculated by chi- square test was “0.02” & was significant, suggesting association between Vitamin D deficiency & respiratory complication. Odds ratio was “7.7”. Conclusion: No significant relationship was found between vitamin D levels with any of the following: respiratory illnesses vs non respiratory, male vs females. Respiratory complications were found more in Vitamin D deficient group. Correlation was found between age & vitamin D level, suggesting association between Vitamin D levels & age.