Abstract
Objective:This study aimed to assess the serum levels of vitamin D in an Egyptian cohort of children with allergic rhinitis (AR) and to evaluate any correlation of vitamin D status with the disease severity.Patient and methods:One hundred twenty children with AR and 100 healthy children were included in our study. We studied the serum levels of vitamin D 25(OH)D and 1,25(OH)2D in all participants. The associations between vitamin D levels and clinical characteristics of AR were examined.Results:In AR group, the serum levels of calcium, (25(OH)D and 1,25(OH)2D levels were significantly lower (p< .0001,p< .001, andp< .0001, respectively) in AR children than in controls. Furthermore, the mean 25-OHD3 levels in patients with moderate/severe AR were significantly lower than those with mild AR (p< .001). We found significant negative correlations between mean 25(OH)D levels and total nasal symptom score (r= -.62,p= .002) and total immunoglobulin E levels (r= -.27,p= .013) in AR group.Conclusions:Vitamin D deficiency is a frequent finding among Egyptian children with AR when compared to the healthy group. A significant inverse association was observed between vitamin D levels and AR disease severity.