Vitamin D, respiratory infections, and chronic disease: Review of meta-analyses and randomized clinical trials.
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
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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 |
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.