Inhaled Steroids Reduce Linear Growth in Asthmatic Children
With incidence of asthma rising at alarming rates, we need to focus on more natural ways to prevent, control or cure the condition that does not have long term side effects. I remember discussing with a well known physician in the Mesa area about how his group did a study in which they kept asthmatic kids out of the hospital with treatment. He just doesn’t understand that keeping kids on medications is not a cure.
Pediatrics 2000;106:e8 A meta-analysis of results from five clinical trials indicates that “moderate” doses of inhaled steroids lead to a decrease in linear growth velocity in asthmatic children. The researchers identified a total of 159 studies covering the subject and performed a meta-analysis on five that met their inclusion criteria. Four studies covered the use of beclomethasone (328 to 400 mcg/day) and involved 450 subjects aged 18 year or younger. The remaining study was of fluticasone (200 mcg/day) in 183 subjects. Beclomethasone therapy was associate with a decrease in linear growth velocity of 1.51 cm/year. Fluticasone treatment led to a growth velocity reduction of 0.43 cm/year. This negative influence on linear growth velocity, the investigators conclude, “needs to be weighed against the known positive effects of inhaled steroids.” In addition, they point out that the effects of these agents “on final adult height remain unknown.”