Association of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D with serum IgE levels in Korean adults

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Studies about the association between vitamin D and allergic disease and the immune-modulatory function of vitamin D have increased in the recent years. However, not enough studies have been conducted for concrete conclusion about the association vitamin D and allergy. We investigate the association between serum immunoglobulin E (IgE) and serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) levels in Korean adults.

METHODS: We used data of 1969 subjects from the 2010 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Total IgE, Dermatophagoides farinae (Df)-specific IgE, and serum 25(OH)D levels were analyzed. Other variables included sex, age, body mass index, smoking history, and economic status. Adjusted regression analysis was used to examine the independent association of 25(OH)D with serum IgE levels.

RESULTS: When we divided all subjects into four groups according to the serum 25(OH)D level: Q1 (lowest), Q2, Q3, and Q4 (highest), the median TIgE level increased with higher quartiles in the Kruskal-Wallis test (p<0.001). Also, the prevalence of Df sensitization was highest in Q4. Serum vitamin D was positively associated with logarithmic transformed total IgE with base of 10 (LogTIgE) (coefficient (B), 0.011; 95% confidence interval, 0.001-0.021). Furthermore, a positive association between 25(OH)D and LogTIgE was found only in men with Df sensitization, but not in men without Df sensitization and women with/without Df sensitization. However, the mean serum 25(OH)D level was significantly lower in participants who were clinically diagnosed with asthma or atopic dermatitis than participants without a history of asthma or atopic dermatitis, respectively.

CONCLUSION: Serum 25(OH)D levels were positively associated with total IgE levels. Furthermore, the association between serum 25(OH)D and total IgE levels could vary depending on sex or allergic sensitization. But, the mean serum 25(OH)D level was lower in participants with asthma or atopic dermatitis history than participants without history of asthma or atopic dermatitis. Prospective further studies will be required to verify this discrepancy.