No Link Between Vitamin D Levels and Risk for COPD Exacerbations

Low vitamin D levels are common in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Two new studies examine the implications of vitamin D levels in patients with COPD.

Kunisaki and colleagues evaluated the link between baseline 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-[OH]D) levels and risk for exacerbations among 973 COPD patients (mean FEV₁, 1.12 L). At baseline, 33% of the patients had levels of 20–29 ng/mL, 32% had levels <20 ng/mL, and 8% had levels <10 ng/mL. No associations were seen between baseline vitamin D level and the time to first COPD exacerbation or the rate of exacerbations.

Lehouck and colleagues conducted a randomized, placebo-controlled trial of vitamin D supplementation (100,000 IU every 4 weeks for 1 year) among 182 patients w…