This article discusses the relationship between asthma and vitamin D deficiency. Historically speaking, vitamin D deficiency was thought to have been eliminated with the fortification of various foods and by a significant decrease in the incidence of rickets, which is a disease that results in the lack of mineralization of the bones. However, it is now believed that vitamin D deficiency is still an issue due to a change in lifestyle in the industrialized nations. Even though many foods we consume are fortified with vitamin D and there is access to supplements, lack of outdoor sun exposure or the use of sunblock seems to affect vitamin D levels. Children being diagnosed with asthma have been increasing for decades in western industrialized …show more content…
It is not thought that children with asthma have more respiratory infections, but the infections that they do acquire are more severe. Cathelicidin peptides which have antiviral, as well as, antimicrobial properties in the immune system can have its production stimulated by vitamin D. In separate studies involving a group of 208 African American women and 334 Japanese schoolchildren, supplementation of vitamin D was shown to decrease the incidences of influenza. In a separate study in the US, there was an increased incidence of experiencing symptoms associated with upper respiratory tract infections in those individuals with serum levels that were lower in 25(OH)D3. According to the article, there is evidence that vitamin D can reduce factors involved in inflammatory responses, as well as, increase the production of anti-inflammatory cytokines. These are small proteins involved in cell signaling. There is also evidence of steroid resistance being reversed when vitamin D was …show more content…
The cells in particular that are a targeted by 1, 25(OH)2D3 are type II pneumocytes. This type of cell’s main function is the production and secretion of surfactant. Studies have been conducted of human/fetal lung fibroblasts in relation to the presence of VDRs and what effects vitamin D has on this tissue. Lung fibroblast tissue is tissue that is involved in airway remodeling and inflammation. Although the presence of VDRs and effects of vitamin D has been shown in human and fetal lung fibroblasts, there has not been a study done that involves the direct measurement of maternal levels of vitamin D within pregnancy and its effects on lung function in early childhood. There were several studies based on the mothers reporting on their dietary intake. The studies show that the mothers with the reported high intake of vitamin D in their diets had a lower risk for their children developing asthma by the time the children reached 5 years of
The American Dietetic Association’s position statement on Nutrition and Athletic Performance, written in conjunction with the Dietitians of Canada and the American College of Sports Medicine, makes specific references to the effects of Vitamin D, both independently and in reference to other micronutrients who are influenced by Vitamin D within the body. The American Dietetic Association’s position statement also describes that Vitamin D is required for a myriad of functions within the body, which include adequate calcium absorption, regulation of serum calcium and phosphorous levels, promotion of bone health, and regulation of homeostasis and development of the nervous system and skeletal muscles 1.
"Discard the Vitamins and Eat More Fruit and Vegetables," which was made by Morley. Although, this doc. was biased to one side I was still able to find evidence for my side on this. Now in this doc. they talked about how they were researching people as said in this quote, "A recent study followed women from Iowa who were between 55 to 69 for 22 years." In this quote they said they followed women from 55-69 for 22 years that took vitamins but, the thing is that they watched them for 22 years they will start dieing due to other circumstances other than multivitamin. They also say that in this doc. we should be eating foods instead of vitamins as said from, "These studies suggest we waste a large amount of money on vitamins and other supplements…" But, my question to that is what about people who have allergies they need to get vitamins somewhere and if they can't get them from the foods they should get it from vitamins or, even better, multivitamins which can help on multiple levels of
In 2011, the University Of Minnesota took women who take vitamins daily and studied them(Offit, Paul., 2013). The result was the same in that there was no supporting evidence that favors Pauling’s claims and statements. In conclusion, the general public believed the words of a man who had no specific evidence to support his own claims over researches done by trusted establishments who had evidence towards their own claims against Linus Pauling. Vitamin D is essential in many aspects especially during growth periods such as adolescents and infancy as indicated by Winston Koo and Nitin Walyat who are the respective authors of “Vitamin D and Skeletal Growth and Development”. Vitamin D is essential for the body as it helps development organ cells; without the development of organ cells, the body cannot fight against harsh diseases and it will eventually cause severe diseases which can lead to delayed growth rate(Koo, Winston ., 2013, p.188).. Children who drink breast milk are more prone to vitamin D deficiency because breast milk does not contain as many vitamins as mineral (Koo,
Imagine a young child competing with his or her fellow classmates during recess and immediately losing the ability to breathe normally. He or she stops in the middle of the competition and falls to the ground while holding his or her chest trying to find air. When you are young, being able to keep up with your peers during recess and sporting events is very important, however, having asthma restricts this. Asthma has a significant impact on childhood development and the diagnosis of asthma for children 18 years and younger has dramatically increased over the years. Asthma is known as a “chronic inflammation of the small and large airways” with “evident bronchial hyper-responsiveness, airflow obstruction, and in some patients, sub-basement fibrosis and over-secretion of mucus” (Toole, 2013). The constant recreation of the lung walls can even occur in young children and “lead to permanent lung damages and reduced lung function” (Toole, 2013). While one of the factors is genetics, many of the following can be prevented or managed. Obesity, exposure to secondhand smoke, and hospitalization with pneumonia in the early years of life have all been suggested to increase children’s risk of developing asthma.
...risk breast milk only has a very small amount of vitamin D. this was found as a problem also in the 16th centaury because it was normal for you child to drink mostly your milk two years into their life. An ABC NEWS reports looked at 380 kids below the age of 2 and 12% were deficaint in vitamin D and 40% dint have the desirable amount in their body, report by Dustin Lushing,. So although not many kid suffer from rickets it is still a problem in some areas that have a lack of education about the disease and how important the right amount of vitamin D is and sun in moderation.
Teratogens are defined as “those substances which exert an adverse influence on development [of a developing fetus]” (Hepper, 2007, p. 48). Teratogens can be environmental influences, such as chemicals or infectious agents. They can also be physical conditions or nutritional deficiencies present in the mother. Thousands of known teratogens have been discovered. For example, Purdue University’s Department of Radiological and Environmental Management (2014) maintains an internet-based list of teratogens which currently names over 2000 substances. This paper will discuss two of these teratogens in further detail: maternal cigarette smoking and vitamin A.
Vitamin D deficiency has become a key factor in predicting cardiovascular risk factors such as metabolic syndrome, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and obesity. It is also a predictive factor of inflammation and fibrosis. All the key elements required for vitamin D function and metabolism e.g. vitamin D receptor and the two enzymes 1-alpha-hydroxylase and 24-hydroxylase are also present in the heart. Vitamin D could be involved in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease by exerting regulatory roles in vascular inflammation, proliferation and calcification, renin-angiotensin aldosterone system, myocardial fibrosis and cardiomyocyte proliferation. The effect of the sunshine vitamin on myocytes could reinforce its role as an important preventive or therapeutic agent. Results of studies indicate that vitamin D can improve myocytes differentiation alongside with decreasing cell proliferation which is one of the main elements contributing to plaque formation.
In addition to various genes affecting the phenotype of asthma, multiple environmental factors like indoor and outdoor air pollution, tobacco smoke, and allergies to pets, molds, common pests (e.g. cockroaches) change gene expr...
Since ancient times vitamin D has been the predominant cause of bone deficiencies.1 However, it was not in till the seventeenth century when both Dr. Daniel Whistler and Professor Francis Glisson made the first scientific description of a vitamin D deficiency.2 During the mid-seventeenth century there was an increase amount of children that were diagnosed with the bone disease called rickets.2 The cause of the rickets was determined to be associated to the lack of sunlight. A German researcher Kurt Huldschinsky came to the conclusion that when infants were exposed to ultraviolet light rays they became cured of rickets2. He stated that a substance in the skin was the potential source of the cure.2 In 1922, American scientist Elmer McCollum proved that when cod liver oil was heated; the beneficial effects of vitamin A in the oil were reduced.2 However, the oil remained effective in curing rickets leading McCollum to reason that a nutrient different from vitamin A was present in the oil. As a result, he named this nutrient vitamin D, which became the fourth vitamin to be discovered and named.2 Additionally, shortly after 1918, vitamin D was also discovered by an accidental experiment that included a group of scientists curing dogs affected with rickets by feeding cod liver oil to them.1
Asthma is also a serious public health issue because it imposes huge impact not only population but also health care systems. According to recent statistics, each year, 5000 deaths, half million hospitalizations, and two million emergency visits are solely explained by asthma [1]. It is also leading cause of absence from school and work. Economic impact is enormous, too. 11 billion dollars of cost was due to only medications of asthma in 1994 [2], which was later increased up to 14 billion dollars in 2002 [3], and still increasing. Unfortunately, this financial burden of asthma falls disproportionately to some vulnerable subgroups: minorities, and children.
Vitamin D deficiency is a widespread health problem, affecting up to 1 billion people worldwide.[1] It has gained increasing recognition in the developing world, including Sub- Saharan Africa (SSA) where sunshine prevails all year round.[2–4] Previous studies in SSA have found widely varying prevalence of vitamin D deficiency, affecting 9-49% of the normal population in a region well endowed with round the year sunshine.[5–7] Cultural norms, religious practices, skin pigmentation, malnutrition, diet, co-morbidities like tuberculosis, and drugs may contribute to vitamin D deficiency in this setting.[2, 3]
Most of you may not think of asthma as a killer disease, yet more that 5,000 Americans die of asthma each year. According to the Mayo Clinic web page, asthma also accounts for more that 400,000 hospital discharges annually. As the number of people with asthma increases, the more likely you are to come in contact with a person who has the disease. As far as I can remember, I have had asthma my whole life. My mother and one of my sisters also have asthma, so I have a first hand experience with it. This morning, I will discuss some interesting facts about asthma, I will specifically focus on what it is, warning signs, symptoms, causes, and the treatments that are used.
Breastfeeding, also known as nursing, is an important process were babies or young children get milk from the mother’s breast. The article “Breast-fed infants may get enough vitamin D in mothers' milk” shows how nursing mothers can supply vitamin D to their babies. There are two ways to do it, one of them is by the mother’s intake doses of vitamin D via supplements, then breast feeding her child. The other method is by giving daily drops of supplement of vitamin D, directly to the baby. The article mentioned some of the risk babies can get if they do not take vitamin D. A baby who receives an appropriate amount of nutrients and vitamins by breastfeeding or bottle can live longer than a baby with an unhealthy diet and low intake of vitamins and proteins.
Vitamin D plays an integral role in multiple systems in the human body, from its function in Calcium and Phosphorus metabolism, to modulation of the immune and reducing the risk of cardiovascular diseases (Grober et al. 2013). Unfortunately, factors such as diet, geographic position, and skin pigmentation are contributing to an increase of prevalence of Vitamin D deficiency around the world, consequently leading to a higher rate of associated illnesses. Namely, Cardiovascular Diseases such as Coronary Artery Disease (CAD), Hypertensive Vascular Disease, and Myocardial Infarction have been shown to be more common in people with lower levels of Vitamin D in their system (Lavie, Lee & Milani 2011).
Vitamins, a group of organic substances required in our diets in small amounts for growth and nutrition, are usually found in foodstuffs or taken as supplements. Yet vitamins probably present a wider gap between myth and reality in the layman's understanding than almost any other area of our diet. Surveys have found that while a majority of Americans do take vitamin supplements on a regular or occasional basis for reason of health concerns, there exists enormous confusion about the actual purpose and benefits of this practice ("Use of Vitamin and Mineral Supplements in the United States," 1990:161). Most people have a recognition that Vitamin C prevents scurvy, that Vitamin A is found in fish-liver oils, or that Vitamin D is found in dairy products; many people believe that Vitamin E preserves youth and prevents sterility, or that Vitamin C can present colds and cancer. Beyond this, however, there is still considerable ignorance and widespread myth.