If your child has asthma, you may have wondered whether vitamin D supplements could help them breathe easier. A new analysis of 1239 children suggests the answer is no.
Researchers combined data from multiple studies to see if vitamin D supplements improved lung function in kids with asthma. They looked at measures like FEV1 (how much air a child can forcefully exhale in one second) and FVC (total air exhaled). The result: no evidence of improvement. The same was true for other markers like peak expiratory flow (PEF), asthma control scores (cACT), and inflammatory markers like FeNO and IgE.
This doesn't mean vitamin D is useless for all children. But for asthma specifically, the current evidence shows no clear benefit for lung function or asthma control. The researchers note that the evidence is inconsistent, and more studies may be needed. For now, parents should not expect vitamin D supplements to improve their child's asthma symptoms or breathing tests.