Vitamin D: A Silent Cofactor for Allergic Rhinitis

Allergic rhinitis affects around 50% of atopies in India. Vitamin D is related to both humoral and cell mediated immunity and its receptors are found in inflammatory mediators. This study was conducted to assess any possible association between Allergic rhinitis and serum Vitamin D. Materials and Methods A cross sectional study was conducted amongst 41patients with Allergic rhinitis as per ARIA guidelines attending the Otolaryngology outpatient Department of a peripheral tertiary care hospital. Vitamin D levels were assessed in patients with allergic rhinitis in terms of serum Ig-E level and absolute blood eosinophil count (ABEC). Results Among 41 patients, 31 patients (75.6%) had deficiency of vitamin D with mean Vitamin D level of 14.87±1.56ng/ml (normal vitamin D level-30-100ng/ml and low <20ng/ml), mean serum Ig-E level was 1040±303.83Iu/ml (normal-1.90-170 IU/ml by CLIA method) and mean ABEC 1226.77±397.89 (normal-30-350/ml). Conclusion Low serum Vitamin D is common in Allergic rhinitis patients. Low serum Vitamin D seems to be a significant cofactor in aetiopathogenesis of Allergic rhinitis in most of the cases.