Serum vitamin A concentrations in asthmatic children in Japan

<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title><jats:p><jats:bold>Background: </jats:bold> Vitamin A is an essential micronutrient with important roles in immunity and maintenance of normal epithelial cell differentiation. Little information is available regarding the relationship between vitamin A concentrations and asthma despite the repair of epithelial and other structural changes being of utmost importance for the relief of symptoms and control of the disease. The authors evaluated vitamin A and vitamin E concentrations in well‐nourished children with asthma.</jats:p><jats:p><jats:bold>Methods: </jats:bold> The serum vitamin A and vitamin E concentrations were measured by high performance liquid chromatography methods. Statistical analysis was performed using the Mann–Whitney U‐test and Peason’s correlation coefficient test.</jats:p><jats:p><jats:bold>Results: </jats:bold> According to these methods, the mean serum vitamin A concentrations were significantly lower (19.41 ± 7.45 μg/dL, mean ± SD) in asthmatic children than controls (29.52 ± 11.34 μg/dL, P = 0.0001). To compare the correlation of C‐reactive protein and serum vitamin A concentrations, there was also significant difference between the two groups.</jats:p><jats:p><jats:bold>Conclusion: </jats:bold> The data suggest that there is a correlation between vitamin A deficiency and the mechanism of asthmatic response. These data support that the mechanism of hypovitaminosis A in asthmatic children may involve not only the acute phase response but also the various degrees of chronic epitherial damage of airways.</jats:p>