Si-Heon Kim1, Ga-Young Ban2, Hae-Sim Park2, Su-chin Kim2, Young-Min Ye3. 1. Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, South Korea. 2. Department of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, South Korea. 3. Department of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, South Korea. Electronic address: ye9007@ajou.ac.kr.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Previous studies have suggested low vitamin D as a potential risk factor for food allergy/anaphylaxis. However, few studies have investigated the association between vitamin D and food-induced anaphylaxis (FIA) in South Korea. OBJECTIVE: To examine regional differences in serum vitamin D levels and FIA incidence. METHODS: We used nationwide data collected from 2011 to 2013. Data on vitamin D were obtained from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey; data on FIA were obtained from the Health Insurance and Assessment Service. Districts were grouped into region 1 (lower solar radiation) and region 2 (higher solar radiation). We examined differences in FIA incidence and vitamin D levels between the regions, adjusting for age. RESULTS: The study included 2,814 patients with FIA and 15,367 people with available serum vitamin D measurements. Age-adjusted FIA incidence was 2.2 per 100,000 person-years in region 1 and 1.8 per 100,000 person-years in region 2 (relative risk, 1.23; 95% confidence interval, 1.09-1.39). Age-adjusted serum vitamin D levels were 16.5 ng/mL in region 1 and 17.8 ng/mL in region 2 (mean difference, 1.3 ng/mL; 95% confidence interval, 0.9-1.9). After stratification by age, sex, and area of residence, region 1 still had higher FIA incidence and lower vitamin D levels than region 2. CONCLUSION: The present study found a higher incidence of FIA in regions with lower vitamin D levels in the population. Further investigation is necessary to identify any direct associations between vitamin D and food allergy/anaphylaxis.
BACKGROUND: Previous studies have suggested low vitamin D as a potential risk factor for food allergy/anaphylaxis. However, few studies have investigated the association between vitamin D and food-induced anaphylaxis (FIA) in South Korea. OBJECTIVE: To examine regional differences in serum vitamin D levels and FIA incidence. METHODS: We used nationwide data collected from 2011 to 2013. Data on vitamin D were obtained from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey; data on FIA were obtained from the Health Insurance and Assessment Service. Districts were grouped into region 1 (lower solar radiation) and region 2 (higher solar radiation). We examined differences in FIA incidence and vitamin D levels between the regions, adjusting for age. RESULTS: The study included 2,814 patients with FIA and 15,367 people with available serum vitamin D measurements. Age-adjusted FIA incidence was 2.2 per 100,000 person-years in region 1 and 1.8 per 100,000 person-years in region 2 (relative risk, 1.23; 95% confidence interval, 1.09-1.39). Age-adjusted serum vitamin D levels were 16.5 ng/mL in region 1 and 17.8 ng/mL in region 2 (mean difference, 1.3 ng/mL; 95% confidence interval, 0.9-1.9). After stratification by age, sex, and area of residence, region 1 still had higher FIA incidence and lower vitamin D levels than region 2. CONCLUSION: The present study found a higher incidence of FIA in regions with lower vitamin D levels in the population. Further investigation is necessary to identify any direct associations between vitamin D and food allergy/anaphylaxis.
Authors: Ibrahim M Kaddam; Adnan M Al-Shaikh; Bahaa A Abaalkhail; Khalid S Asseri; Yousef M Al-Saleh; Ali A Al-Qarni; Ahmed M Al-Shuaibi; Waleed G Tamimi; Abdelmoneim M Mukhtar Journal: Saudi Med J Date: 2017-04 Impact factor: 1.484