Is there an association between vitamin D levels and cow's milk protein allergy at infancy?

AIM

Food allergy is an important public health concern with an increasing prevalence. The objectives were to determine the possible association between cow's milk protein allergy (CMPA) and 25(OH)D (vitamin-D) levels of infants with an initial diagnosis of CMPA and the association between 25(OH)D levels and (a) SPT (skin prick test) induration size, (b) specific IgE to milk, (c) specific IgE to casein.

METHODS

Prospective, observational, case control study; the study group was composed of children < 2 years of age with a diagnosis of CMPA confirmed by an oral food challenge test. Healthy infants were enrolled as controls. Serum 25(OH) D levels were obtained at the initial workup in both groups. The correlation of vitamin-D levels was investigated in the development of CMPA.

RESULTS

Among the study group of patients (n:56) 41,1% (n:23) had IgE-mediated and 58,9% (n:33) had non-IgE-mediated allergies There were no statistically significant differences between the CMPA and control groups (n: 55), in terms of serum 25(OH)D levels (33.85 ± 16.18ng/ml, 30.70 ± 14.90ng/ml; respectively, p:0.289). No statistically significant difference was found between study and controls according to 25(OH) D levels (adequate, insufficiency, deficiency; p=0.099). In the SPT of the CMPA group, a negative weak correlation without statistical significance was determined between the induration diameter of milk antigen and serum levels of 25(OH)D (p:0,794; r= -0,037).

CONCLUSIONS

No significant difference was found in serum 25 (OH)D levels between infants with CMPA and healthy controls. Our results do not support the routine request for 25(OH)D levels in pediatric age CMPA patients at their initial workup.