With the reported incidence of allergy rising lots of research is underway to find out the factors that may be involved. The latest piece of research published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology suggests that vitamin D could be a key factor.
The researchers found a significant link between children and adolescents with a vitamin D deficiency and the presence of a range of food allergies (including peanut allergy). But the same findings could not be reproduced in adults – in fact the results suggest that vitamin D deficiency may be protective in adults. But the researchers are unsure why this may be the case.
Some research has previously been published on this subject, but this is the first large study to investigate links between vitamin D levels and allergic disease. However, because of its observational design, the study is unable to show the cause and effect relationship that may exist. Because they are only able to hypothesise about the possible mechanisms for the perceived protective effect in children and adolescents, the researchers conclude that vitamin D may inhibit the factors that trigger the allergic response.
It’s an interesting hypothesis, but as this study shows, the evidence is still uncertain and further research is needed. Ideally we’d like to see large intervention studies where the effect of vitamin D and allergic status can be explored further.