• Allergy, Asthma & Respiratory Disease
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• v.6 no.6
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• pp.284-289
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• 2018

Purpose: Vitamin D plays an important role in calcium homeostasis and bone metabolism. It is associated with various diseases such as cardiovascular, immune, allergic and infectious disease. The aim of this study was to investigate the difference in clinical manifestations according to the concentration of vitamin D in mild bronchiolitis. Methods: We performed a retrospective review of medical records of patients with mild bronchiolitis from November 2016 to April 2017 in Daegu Fatima Hospital. Mild bronchiolitis was classified by the modified Tal's score method. Patients were divided into 2 groups according to a 25-hydroxyvitamin D level of 20 ng/mL. We analyzed the clinical characteristics and laboratory data from the 2 groups. Results: Of the 64 patients, 19 were included in the deficiency group and 45 in the normal group. Vitamin D levels were $11.7{\pm}4.9ng/mL$ in the deficiency group and $28.8{\pm}5.0ng/mL$ in the normal group. There were no differences in clinical features between both groups. However, the vitamin D deficiency group had significantly longer hospitalization than the normal group ($6.78{\pm}2.74$ days vs. $5.3{\pm}1.7$ days, P=0.045). In the deficiency group, the incidence of previous respiratory diseases was significantly higher (P=0.001). No significant difference in blood and respiratory virus tests was observed. Conclusion: Low vitamin D levels in mild bronchiolitis were associated with longer hospitalization and prior respiratory disease. Vitamin D may affect the course of mild bronchiolitis.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.233-241
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• 2019

Purpose: Vitamin D deficiency is a condition widespread throughout the world. Recent studies have suggested that vitamin D deficiency was associated with obesity and metabolic syndrome. The purpose of the study was to examine the relationship between vitamin D deficiency and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in adolescents. Methods: The data were obtained from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 2008-2014. A total of 3,878 adolescents were included in the study. Vitamin D deficiency was defined as a 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentration <20 ng/mL and suspected NAFLD was defined as an alanine transaminase concentration >30 U/L. Results: Vitamin D deficiency was noted in 78.9% of the studied population. Age, body mass index, waist circumference, and blood pressure, glucose, cholesterol, and triglyceride levels were significantly higher in adolescents with suspected NAFLD than in adolescents without suspected NAFLD, while the mean vitamin D level was significantly lower in adolescents with suspected NAFLD. The multivariate-adjusted odds of suspected NAFLD were higher with increased age, male gender, obesity, and metabolic syndrome. Individuals with vitamin D deficiency were at higher risk of suspected NAFLD (odds ratio, 1.77; 95% confidence interval, 1.07-2.95) after adjusting for age, gender, obesity, and metabolic syndrome. Conclusion: Vitamin D deficiency was associated with suspected NAFLD, independent of obesity and metabolic syndrome, in adolescents.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.775-788
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• 2022

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in Koreans is quite high; however, until recently, Korean National Health and Nutrition Survey (KNHANES) had not analyzed the vitamin D intake among Koreans. Additionally, the Korean Dietary Reference Intake for vitamin D was established based on insufficient evidence. Therefore, we investigated vitamin D intake and its relationship with bone mineral density (BMD) in Korean adults using the combined data from the 2009-2011 KNHANES. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was conducted in 11,949 healthy adults. Vitamin D intake was assessed using a 24-h recall method, and the BMD was measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. RESULTS: The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency (< 20 ng/mL) was 64% in men and 77% in women. In women aged ≥ 50 yrs and men aged < 50 yrs, there was a significant positive correlation between vitamin D intake and serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D level after sun exposure adjustment. The BMD of postmenopausal women aged ≥ 50 yrs with a vitamin D intake of 5 ㎍/day or more was significantly higher than that of women with intake less than 5 ㎍/day. After adjusting for age, energy, and calcium intake, the vitamin D intake of the osteoporotic group was significantly lower than that of the osteopenia group in women. CONCLUSIONS: Since the relationship between vitamin D intake and BMD was observed in women aged ≥ 50 yrs, further research is needed to clarify these findings using cohort or randomized controlled trials.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.27-33
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• 2014

Purpose: Although vitamin D deficiency is more commonly found in cancer patient than in non-cancer patients, there have been little data regarding the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in cancer patients at the very end of life. We examined vitamin D deficiency in terminally ill cancer patients and related factors. Methods: This study was based on a retrospective chart review of 133 patients in a hospice ward. We collected data regarding age, sex, serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D level, cancer type, physical performance, current medications and various laboratory findings. We investigated factors related to serum vitamin D levels after multivariate adjustment for potential confounders. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D<20 ng/mL was considered deficient and <10 ng/mL severely deficient. Results: Ninety-five percent of the patients were serum vitamin D deficient. Severe vitamin D deficiency was more common in male patients, non-lung cancer patients, $H_2$ blocker users and non-anticonvulsant users. Elevated levels of serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) were also associated with low serum vitamin D levels. Multiple regression analysis showed that severe vitamin D deficiency was associated with male gender (aOR 3.82, 95% CI: 1.50~9.72, P=0.005), $H_2$ blocker users (aOR 3.94, 95% CI: 1.61~9.65, P=0.003) and elevated serum ALT levels (aOR 4.52, 95% CI: 1.35~15.19, P=0.015). Conclusion: Vitamin D deficiency was highly prevalent among terminally ill cancer patients. Severe vitamin D deficiency was more common in male patients, $H_2$ blocker users, and patients with elevated ALT levels.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.43 no.10
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• pp.1467-1476
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• 2014

Recent studies have shown that insufficient or deficient vitamin D status may be linked to increased risk of depressive conditions or depression. The aim of this study was to review all available evidence on vitamin D, depression, and any association between them. Cross-sectional, case-control, and cohort studies have reported contradictory results. Some have reported that low levels of vitamin D may be associated with higher risk of depression or depressive symptoms while others reported that vitamin D status may not be related to depression. Recent clinical trials examining the effects of vitamin D supplementation on depression have also showed discrepant results. However, meta-analysis study results are consistent regarding the beneficial effects of vitamin D. Several mechanisms that account for these beneficial effects of vitamin D on depression have been reported but remain largely speculative. Vitamin D deficiency is very common, and prevalence of depression is increasing in the Asian population, especially females. However, limited literature is available on this population. Considering research results of a potential inverse association between vitamin D level and prevalence of depression, it is important to advance our understanding of the role of vitamin D in depression and conduct well-designed prospective trials in the Asian population.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.53 no.4
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• pp.381-389
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• 2020

Purpose: This study examined the relationships among serum ferritin, vitamin D, folate, iron, and vitamin B₁₂ as indicators of obesity. The results provide the basic data for the prevention and treatment of obese and severely obese people. Methods: This study selected 44 people from 18 years of age or older to 59 years. This study used the indicators of the body mass index (BMI) to analyze obesity as the obesity group (BMI of 25.0-29.9 kg/㎡) and as the severe obesity group (BMI ≥ 30.0 kg/㎡). Of the 44 subjects, 23 and 21 subjects were in the obesity and severe obesity groups, respectively. Their height, weight, body fat, skeletal muscle mass measured using bioimpedance analysis, and measured serum nutrients and biochemical parameters. Results: The obesity group showed a significantly lower age, body weight, BMI and body composition, body fat mass, and body fat percentage, and the height was significantly lower in the severe obesity group. The results of the biochemical parameters of the subjects showed that the levels of aspartate transaminase, alanine transaminase, hemoglobin A1c, total cholesterol, and triglyceride were within the normal range, and there was no significant difference between the 2 groups. The levels of folate, vitamin B₁₂, 25-hydroxyvitamin D₃, iron, and ferritin were almost normal, and there was no significant difference between the 2 groups. Conclusion: This study revealed an association with the serum nutrients and obesity, but there was no difference between the obesity group and severe obesity group. Observations of the nutrient levels in not only the blood in obesity and severe obesity but also in red blood cells and tissues will be necessary.

• Journal of The Korean Ophthalmological Society
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• v.59 no.11
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• pp.1024-1029
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• 2018

Purpose: We examined aqueous humor levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (vitamin D) in patients with age-related macular degeneration to investigate possible relationships between aqueous humor vitamin D levels and clinical manifestations. Methods: Patients > 50 years of age, 52 eyes of 34 patients with age-related macular degeneration, and 23 eyes of 17 patients treated with cataract surgery without retinal disease, were examined for aqueous humor vitamin D levels and compared. The experimental group was divided into two groups according to the median value of aqueous humor vitamin D levels. We compared the clinical manifestations of macular degeneration in both groups and identified relationships between aqueous humor vitamin D levels and clinical features. Results: Vitamin D levels in the aqueous humor were significantly lower in the experimental group than in the control group (experimental, $10.03{\pm}10.1ng/mL$ vs. control group, $40.8{\pm}16.4ng/mL$; p < 0.001). Patients with high vitamin D levels in the macular degeneration group had a higher percentage of fibrovascular pigment epithelial detachments than those in the low grade group (high grade group, 65% vs. low grade group, 27%; p = 0.003). Multiple linear regression analysis showed a significant correlation between vitamin D levels and the total number of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor intravitreal injections within 6 months (standardize coefficient, ${\beta}=-0.336$). Conclusions: Patients with wet age-related macular degeneration had significantly lower vitamin D levels in the aqueous humor compared to control group subjects of similar ages. However, in patients with macular degeneration, low vitamin D levels were associated with a greater number of intravitreal injections, while higher levels of vitamin D may lead to more advanced forms of fibrovascular retinal pigment epithelium and related low vision. These relationships were not always constant, so further studies on the relationships between local vitamin D levels and ocular disorders are needed.