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. 2012 Oct;3(4):300-3.
doi: 10.4103/0976-500X.103685.

Vitamin D for prevention of respiratory tract infections: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Jaykaran Charan  1 , Jagdish P Goyal, Deepak Saxena, Preeti Yadav
Affiliations

Vitamin D for prevention of respiratory tract infections: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Jaykaran Charan et al. J Pharmacol Pharmacother. 2012 Oct.

Abstract

Objectives: To explore the effect of vitamin D supplementation in prevention of respiratory tract infections on the basis of published clinical trials.

Materials and methods: Clinical trials were searched from various electronic databases. Five clinical trials were suitable for inclusion. Outcome was events of respiratory tract infections in vitamin D group and placebo group. Data was reported as odds ratio with 95% confidence interval. Both random and fixed model was used for analysis. Analysis was done with the help of Comprehensive meta-analysis software 2.

Results: Events of respiratory tract infections were significantly lower in vitamin D group as compared to control group [Odds ratio = 0.582 (0.417 - 0.812) P = 0.001] according to random model. Results were similar in fixed model. On separate analysis of clinical trials dealing with groups of children and adults, beneficial effect of vitamin D was observed in both, according to fixed model [Odds ratio = 0.579 (0.416 - 0.805), P = 0.001 and Odd ratio = 0.653 (0.472 - 0.9040, P = 0.010 respectively]. On using random model beneficial effect persisted in children's group but became nonsignificant in adults group [Odds ratio = 0.579 (0.416 - 0.805), P = 0.001 and Odd ratio = 0.544 (0.278 - 1.063) P = 0.075 respectively].

Conclusion: Vitamin D supplementation decreases the events related to respiratory tract infections. There is need of more well conducted clinical trials to reach to a certain conclusion.

Keywords: Influenza; pneumonia; prevention; respiratory tract infections; vitamin D.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest: None declared

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
PRISMA Chart
Figure 2
Figure 2
Meta-analysis of trials showing effect of vitamin D supplementation in prevention of respiratory tract infections. Effect of vitamin D supplementation in prevention of respiratory tract infections. Random effect model (DerSimonian laird); Odds ratio = 0.582 (0.417 – 0.812) Z = - 3.185, P value = 0.001, test for heterogeneity t^2= 0.064
Figure 3
Figure 3
Meta-analysis of trials showing effect of vitamin D supplementation in prevention of respiratory tract infections in pediatric population Effect of vitamin D supplementation in prevention of respiratory tract infections in pediatric population. Random effect model (DerSimonian laird); Odds ratio = 0.579 (0.416 – 0.805) Z = - 3.246 P Value = 0.001 Test for heterogeneity t^2= 0.000
Figure 4
Figure 4
Meta-analysis of trials showing effect of vitamin D supplementation in prevention of respiratory tract infections in adult population Effect of vitamin D supplementation in prevention of respiratory tract infections in adult population. Random effect model (DerSimonian laird); Odds ratio = 0.544 (0.278 – 1.063) Z = - 1.783 P value = 0.075 test for heterogeneity t^2 = 0.247
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