The impact of vitamin D supplementation on serum cathelicidin levels and the clinical course of atopic dermatitis in children

BACKGROUND: Cathelicidin has been correlated with the pathophysiology of atopic dermatitis (AD). An indirect correlation of vitamin D with the course of the disease has already been reported as it directly affects the levels of cathelicidin. The purpose of the present article is to investigate the impact of vitamin D supplementation on the course of AD.METHODS: We conducted a prospective observational study. The severity of AD was assessed with the clinical tool SCORAD (SCORing Atopic Dermatitis) which is developed by the European Task Force on AD.RESULTS: Fifty children with AD were enrolled and stratified in two groups based on the severity of SCORAD. Children with severe AD (SCORAD Index >40) received higher doses of vitamin D in order to sufficiently reduce the disease (comparable SCORAD Index for children with mild atopic dermatitis). While the baseline SCORAD differed statistically significant level between the two groups of children with AD (P<0.001) this difference disappeared at 20 (P=0.649) days and remained statistically insignificant both at 45 days (P=0.610), and at the end of the administration of treatment (P=0.474). This effect was based on a significant downregulation of the severity of symptoms in the group of children that received 2400 IU of vitamin D.CONCLUSIONS: The findings of our study suggest that vitamin D may be accurately used in current clinical practice for the management of AD. However, the recommended dose should be titrated taking in mind the severity of the disease.