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Vitamin D, respiratory infections, and chronic disease: Review of meta-analyses and randomized clinical trials.

Journal of internal medicine
February 1, 2022
Davaasambuu Ganmaa et al. (6 authors)
Journal ArticleReviewHuman Study
Study Details

Study Goal

The researchers aimed to assess potential causal relationships between vitamin D supplementation and reduced risks of respiratory infections, bone health issues, and chronic diseases like CVD, diabetes, and cancer.

Results Summary

The study found inconsistent evidence for vitamin D benefits, with suggestive benefits in high-risk populations (e.g., acute respiratory infections, fractures in institutionalized older adults, type 2 diabetes in prediabetic patients, and cancer mortality). No compelling evidence was found for other conditions like CVD, falls, or cancer incidence.

Population

Populations at greater risk of vitamin D deficiency (VDD) and those with high-risk conditions (e.g., institutionalized older adults, prediabetic patients).

Effective Dosage

Not specified

Duration

Not specified

Interactions

None mentioned

Extracted Claims (9)
InterventionDirectionEndpointPopulationDosageImpactClaim #
vitamin D supplementation
decrease
acute respiratory infections
populations at greater risk of VDD
-
suggestive evidence for benefit was found
#1
vitamin D supplementation
decrease
fractures
institutionalized older adults
-
suggestive evidence for benefit was found
#2
vitamin D supplementation
decrease
type 2 diabetes
patients with prediabetes
-
suggestive evidence for benefit was found
#3
vitamin D supplementation
decrease
cancer mortality
-
-
suggestive evidence for benefit was found
#4
vitamin D supplementation
no change
other respiratory conditions
-
-
no compelling evidence for benefit was found
#5
vitamin D supplementation
no change
fractures
community-dwelling adults
-
no compelling evidence for benefit was found
#6
vitamin D supplementation
no change
falls
-
-
no compelling evidence for benefit was found
#7
vitamin D supplementation
no change
cancer incidence
-
-
no compelling evidence for benefit was found
#8
vitamin D supplementation
no change
CVD
-
-
no compelling evidence for benefit was found
#9
Abstract

BACKGROUND: Observational studies have suggested associations of vitamin D deficiency (VDD) with respiratory tract infections, impaired bone health, and myriad chronic diseases. OBJECTIVE: To assess potential causal relationships between vitamin D supplementation and a reduced risk of these conditions, a review of the evidence across available meta-analyses of randomized control trials (RCTs) and RCTs was performed. METHOD: PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science were searched from their inception to March 2021. We included only RCTs and meta-analyses of RCTs focusing on the association between vitamin D and respiratory disease, bone health, cardiovascular disease (CVD), diabetes mellitus, and cancer. RESULTS: A total of 107 RCTs and 62 meta-analysis of RCTs were included. Although most RCTs did not support benefits of vitamin D supplementation, suggestive evidence for benefit was found in populations at greater risk of VDD and for acute respiratory infections, fractures in institutionalized older adults, type 2 diabetes among patients with prediabetes, and cancer mortality. In contrast, no compelling evidence for benefit was found for other respiratory conditions, fractures in community-dwelling adults, falls, cancer incidence, or CVD. CONCLUSIONS: Current evidence from RCTs and meta-analyses of RCTs is inconsistent regarding the effects of vitamin D supplementation on respiratory infections and chronic diseases. Individuals most likely to benefit are those with baseline VDD or with selected high-risk conditions. Public health initiatives are needed to eliminate VDD globally, and future research will be enhanced by a 'precision prevention' approach to identify those most likely to benefit from vitamin D supplementation.

Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)
AgedCardiovascular DiseasesChronic DiseaseDietary SupplementsFractures, BoneHumansMeta-Analysis as TopicNeoplasmsRandomized Controlled Trials as TopicRespiratory Tract InfectionsVitamin DVitamin D DeficiencyVitamins
Study Links
Quality Scores
Safety85
Efficacy65/10
Quality90/10
Citation Metrics
Total Citations29
Citations/Year9.7
Relative Citation Ratio4.40
NIH Percentile91.5%
Research Impact Scores
APT Score0.75
Weight Score3.07
Normalized Score0.78
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