Another Case For Vitamin D

I read another article abstract looking at 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels measured from 1024 children with mild to moderate asthma. They looked at baseline vitamin D levels and the odds of any hospitalization or ER visits over the 4 years the trial was examined. 35% of subjects were vitamin D deficient. After analyzing all the data they concluded that vitamin D insufficiency is common in this population of children with mild-to-moderate persistent asthma and is associated with higher risk of severe exacerbation over a 4 year period. (Journal Allergy Clinical Immunology July; 126 (1): 52-8 e5). Once again the importance of vitamin D can not be over-stated.

Sadly, I also just read how Ontario is no longer paying for vitamin D testing (unless indicated ie. osteoporosis) as the #'s of test requests drastically increased. Vitamin D should be tested and the mere 50$ to run the test could save the government lots of money down the road as deficient D levels can cause much worse things that would cost much more when we need to treat cancer, depression or constant illnesses from a low immune system (we can lump asthma into this group). Another well made decision by the goverment and another good reason to see an ND!