Effect of vitamin D replacement in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients with vitamin D deficiency

Vitamin D deficiency is prevalent among patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and comes to be more frequent with increased disease severity. We aimed to assess the role of vitamin D supplementation in patients with severe COPD.Patients and methodsWe studied 30 patients with severe COPD and vitamin D deficiency. All patients received oral vitamin D3 50,000IU once weekly for 8weeks, followed by a daily dose of 800IU thereafter. Pulmonary function tests, six minute walk test (6MWT), maximum inspiratory pressure (MIP), maximum expiratory pressure (MEP), C-reactive protein (CRP), and serum vitamin D level were assessed at the start of the study and 1year later. The frequency of exacerbations was recorded a year before and a year after vitamin D supplementation.ResultsThe mean serum vitamin D level was 11.80±2.40ng/dl and reached 55.30±5.65ng/dl a year after vitamin D intake (p<0.001). We found a significant improvement in dyspnea scale (p<0.003), 6MWT (p<0.001), MVV (p<0.001), MIP (p=0.006), MEP (p<0.001), coupled with a decrease in disease exacerbations (p<0.001) and CRP (p<0.001) a year after vitamin D replacement. However, the FEV1 and FVC did not differ significantly.ConclusionVitamin D replacement improved dyspnea, physical performance and decreased the frequency of exacerbation in severe COPD patients with vitamin D deficiency