Vitamin D Antenatal Asthma Reduction Trial
A collaboration between Boston University, Brigham & Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School,
Kaiser Permanente Southern California Region, Medical University of South
Carolina, Washington University in St. Louis, and the NHLBI
VDAART Background and Purpose
R ecent scientific evidence suggests that a woman's Vitamin D level during pregnancy may be correlated to the development of asthma in her child.
Pregnant women who have an elevated risk of having children who will develop asthma are eligible to be enrolled in the VDAART trial.
During the course of the study, some will be administered higher doses of Vitamin D for the purpose of determining
whether or not it will help prevent or reduce asthma, wheezing, and/or other allergic illnesses in their children. VDAART will also study
the role of allergy, the environment, and genetics in the development of asthma.
What is asthma?*
- Asthma is a long-term lung disease that causes recurring periods of wheezing (a whistling sound when you breathe), chest tightness, shortness of breath, and coughing.
Why is the VDAART Study Important?*
- Asthma is increasing to epidemic levels throughout the world.
- Only 1 in 4 children with asthma will appear to grow out of it.
- Asthma is the number one cause of missed school days and emergency department visits due to chronic conditions.
- One-third of individuals with asthma are children but asthma burden is greater in young children than in adults.
- Childhood asthma costs society more than 3 billion dollars yearly.
- The exact cause of asthma isn't known.
- Researchers think children with a family history of asthma are at higher risk of developing asthma themselves.
- Today there exist no treatments to prevent or reduce the development of asthma in children.
What is VDAART?
- VDAART is the Vitamin D Antenatal Asthma Reduction Trial.
- VDAART, funded by your National Institutes of Health, is studying a potential innovative aproach to prevent or reduce
the development of asthma in young children.
- VDAART will also study the role of allergic, environmental and genetic factors in the development of asthma.
*Information provided by www.nhlbi.nih.gov
For more information about asthma, visit the NHLBI Asthma Website.
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/Asthma/Asthma_WhatIs.html
