The role of oral vitamin D3 supplementation in the treatment of Chronic Rhinosinusitis in adults with Vitamin D deficiency

BACKGROUND: Chronic Rhinosinusitis (CRS) is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the mucosal lining of the nose and paranasal sinuses. The ability of Vitamin D (VD3) to augment innate and adaptive immune responses has sparked interest in its immunologic role in the treatment of CRS. In this study, the incidence of vitamin D deficiency in CRS patients was compared to normal population and the beneficial role of Vitamin D supplementation in its treatment was also evaluated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: It is a retrospective 1-year study of 200 CRS patients with Vitamin D deficiency. The patients were divided into two groups, i.e. 100 patients were given oral Vitamin D supplements and the other group of 100 patients were treated as placebo. Both Vitamin D levels and the Total Nasal Symptom Score (TNSS) were assessed at the start and end of the study period. RESULTS: Of the 200 subjects with CRS, 100 were given oral vitamin D supplementation in the form of Cholecalciferol 60000IU weekly once for 3 months and the other group were treated with placebo. Before the treatment, the average level of serum Vitamin D was 12.31 ng/ml. After 3 months, it increased significantly to 29.71 ng/ml. Similarly, the pretreatment TNSS score was on average 11.92. After 3 months, the scores fell by an average of 10.65 points, a significant statistical difference (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: There is a higher prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in CRS patients and that vitamin D supplementation in these patients went a long way in alleviating their symptoms.