Comparison vitamin D serum levels in allergic rhinitis patients with normal population

Background Allergic rhinitis is one of the most prevalent diseases worldwide and several studies have been done to investigate its risk factors. Some studies have shown that there is an association between severity of allergic rhinitis and serum level of 25 OH vitamin D, but no consensus has been yet achieved. Objective Given the high prevalence of allergic rhinitis and the high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in Iranian population, this study aimed to determine the mean serum level of vitamin D in patients with allergic rhinitis and the control group. Materials and methods This is a case-control study conducted in Imam Ali Clinic in Shahrekord (Iran) during 2014–2015. Fifty-four patients with allergic rhinitis and 54 healthy person were randomly selected and their serum levels of 25 OH vitamin D were measured. Also, demographic data and the data on severity of allergic rhinitis were collected by a questionnaire and analyzed by SPSS. Results The mean serum level of 25 OH vitamin D in the case and the control groups were 29.62 ± 18.44 nmoL (11.8 ± 7.4 ng/mL) and 62.18 ± 18.53 nmoL (24.9 ± 7.4 ng/mL), respectively, with a statistically difference between the two groups (P = 0.001). Also, 4 (7.4%) patients in case group were vitamin D deficient but no one in the control group was vitamin D deficient, with a statistically difference between the two groups according to the Fisher's exact test (P = 0.003). Conclusion According to the results of this study, there is a relationship between serum level of vitamin D and suffering from allergic rhinitis. Special attention should be paid to the geographic characteristics of Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province. Certain health programs should be implemented to cure and prevent vitamin D deficiency in allergic rhinitis patients