The Relationship between Serum Vitamin D Levels with Allergic Rhinitis Incidence and Total Nasal Symptom Score in Allergic Rhinitis Patients

Open Access Maced J Med Sci. 2018 Aug 10;6(8):1405-1409. doi: 10.3889/oamjms.2018.247. eCollection 2018 Aug 20.

Abstract

Background: Allergic diseases and vitamin D deficiency were found to have a relationship. However, there was limited number of studies on the relationship between vitamin D with allergic rhinitis (AR) and total nasal symptom scores (TNSS), particularly in determining the cut-off points of serum vitamin D levels which correlated to AR.

Aim: As this particular study has never been conducted in Indonesia, the main objective of this study was to investigate this issue.

Methods: The research was conducted at Dr Soetomo Hospital, Surabaya in January 2017. A group of 30 subjects were recruited using consecutive sampling. Levels of serum vitamin D were measured using electrochemiluminescence immunoassay (ECLIA) method while the total nasal symptom scores were obtained by accumulating all the nasal symptoms. Data of serum vitamin D levels and TNSS were analysed statistically with the Pearson correlation test.

Results: It was found that the mean of serum 25(OH) vitamin D levels (9.13 ng/mL) of the AR group was significantly lower than the non-AR group (26.22 ng/mL) (P = 0.000). The vitamin D cut-off points which correlated to AR was about 12.83 ng/mL (sensitivity = 80%; specificity = 100%). A Pearson correlation test found a strong, negative correlation between vitamin D levels and TNSS (P = 0.000; r = -0.800).

Conclusion: There was a strong, negative correlation between serum vitamin D levels with AR and TNSS. The cut-off points of serum vitamin D levels correlated to AR were approximately12.83 ng/mL. Thus, further research needs to be conducted.

Keywords: 25-hydroxyvitamin D; Allergic diseases; Allergic rhinitis; Cut-off points; Total nasal symptom score.