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Review
. 2013 Dec 19:2013:459160.
doi: 10.1155/2013/459160.

Vitamin d supplementation for the treatment of acute childhood pneumonia: a systematic review

Rashmi Ranjan Das  1 , Meenu Singh  2 , Inusha Panigrahi  2 , Sushree Samiksha Naik  3
Affiliations
Review

Vitamin d supplementation for the treatment of acute childhood pneumonia: a systematic review

Rashmi Ranjan Das et al. ISRN Pediatr. .

Abstract

Background. Studies have found an increased incidence of vitamin D deficiency in children with pneumonia; however, there is no conclusive data regarding the direct effect of vitamin D supplementation in acute pneumonia. Methods. A comprehensive search was performed of the major electronic databases till September 2013. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing treatment with vitamin D3 versus placebo in children ≤5 years old with pneumonia were included. Results. Out of 32 full text articles, 2 RCTs including 653 children were eligible for inclusion. One trial used a single 100,000 unit of oral vitamin D3 at the onset of pneumonia. There was no significant difference in the mean (±SD) number of days to recovery between the vitamin D3 and placebo arms (P = 0.17). Another trial used oral vitamin D3 (1000 IU for <1 year and 2000 IU for >1 year) for 5 days in children with severe pneumonia. Median duration of resolution of severe pneumonia was similar in the two groups (intervention, 72 hours; placebo, 64 hours). Duration of hospitalization and time to resolution of tachypnea, chest retractions, and inability to feed were also comparable between the two groups. Conclusions. Oral vitamin D supplementation does not help children under-five with acute pneumonia.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Flow diagram of search results. RCTs: Randomized controlled trials.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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