Does Native Vitamin D Supplementation Have Pleiotropic Effects in Patients with End-Stage Kidney Disease? A Systematic Review of Randomized Trials.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to determine whether vitamin D supplementation improves outcomes beyond mineral metabolism in patients with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD).
Results Summary
The study found minimal and varied benefits of native vitamin D supplementation, with no demonstrated effect on patient-reported well-being, erythropoietin usage, or inflammation biomarker levels.
Population
Adults with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD).
Effective Dosage
Not specified
Duration
Not specified
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
native vitamin D supplementation | increase | outcomes beyond mineral metabolism | patients with ESKD | - | minimal and varied benefit | #1 |
vitamin D | no change | patient-reported measures of well-being | patients with ESKD | - | no demonstrated effect | #2 |
vitamin D | no change | utilization of erythropoietin | patients with ESKD | - | no demonstrated effect | #3 |
vitamin D | no change | levels of the inflammation biomarker | patients with ESKD | - | does not change | #4 |
Vitamin D has been shown to have multiple pleiotropic effects beyond bone and mineral metabolism, with purported roles in cardiovascular disease, cancer, and host immunity. Vitamin D deficiency is common in patients with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD); however, current clinical practice has favored the use of the active hormone. Whether vitamin D deficiency should be corrected in patients with ESKD remains unclear, as few randomized trials have been conducted. In this systematic review, we summarize the current evidence examining whether vitamin D supplementation improves outcomes, beyond mineral metabolism, in patients with ESKD. Data from randomized controlled trials of adults with ESKD were obtained by searching Ovid MEDLINE, Embase, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and the Web of Science Core Collection from inception to February 2023. Twenty-three trials composed of 2489 participants were identified for inclusion. Data were synthesized by two independent reviewers and summarized in tables organized by outcome. Outcomes included measures of mortality, cardiovascular disease, inflammation, muscle strength/function, nutrition, patient well-being, and outcomes specific to ESKD including erythropoietin usage, pruritus, and dialysis access maturation. The Cochrane risk of Bias Tool (RoB 2, 2019) was used to assess study quality. Overall, our findings indicate a minimal and varied benefit of native vitamin D supplementation. From the largest studies included, we determine that vitamin D has no demonstrated effect on patient-reported measures of well-being or utilization of erythropoietin, nor does it change levels of the inflammation biomarker