Original Research Article
Year: 2019 | Month: August | Volume: 9 | Issue: 8 | Pages: 82-88
The Role of Vitamin D Deficiency and Its Supplementation in the Treatment of Allergic Rhinitis
Dr. Haritosh K. Velankar1, Dr. Yogesh G. Dabholkar2, Dr. Prajakta Deshmukh3, Dr. Bhavika Verma Bhatt4
1Professor, 2Professor and Head, 3Intern, 4Senior Resident,
Department of ENT, D. Y. Patil University School of Medicine.
Corresponding Author: Dr. Yogesh G. Dabholkar
ABSTRACT
Purpose: Many studies have suggested Vitamin D to be a critical player in allergic rhinitis, however this association yet remains uncertain. In this study, the incidence of vitamin D deficiency in allergic rhinitis patients was compared to normal population and the role of Vitamin D in potentiating the action of a steroid spray in allergic rhinitis was evaluated.
Methods: 200 subjects with allergic rhinitis were tested for serum vitamin D levels. A two arms study was carried out in allergic rhinitis patients with vitamin D deficiency wherein one group received treatment with steroid spray and vitamin D while the other group received treatment with steroid spray and placebo for a period of two weeks. The response in both the groups was compared by their total nasal symptom scores. The unpaired ‘t’test was used for comparison of the two groups.
Results: There was a high prevalence (83%) of vitamin D deficiency in the allergic rhinitis patients. There was a significantly better response in the group which received vitamin D along with a steroid spray.
Conclusion: There is higher prevalence of vitamin D in allergic rhinitis patients and that vitamin D supplementation in these patients potentiates the effect of steroid sprays.
Key words: Vitamin D, deficiency, allergic rhinitis.