Vitamin D supplementation to prevent acute respiratory infections: systematic review and meta-analysis of stratified aggregate data
An erratum to this article was published (Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol, Jul 2025 ↗)
Pooled result · Overall ARI riskResult — go to the resultOdds ratio 0.94 95% CI 0.88–1.00Authors' conclusion
This updated meta-analysis yielded a similar point estimate for the overall effect of vitamin D supplementation on ARI risk to that obtained previously, but the 95% CI for this effect estimate now includes 1.00, indicating no statistically significant protection.
Study context
- Population
- Participants in double-blind randomised controlled trials (RCTs) of vitamin D for ARI prevention with ARI incidence collected prospectively and pre-specified as efficacy outcome
- Participants
- 61,589 participants40 studies
- Comparison
- Any vitamin D vs placebo
- Outcome
- Overall ARI risk, any vitamin D vs placebo
Methodological detailsupdated, random effects model, stratified aggregate data, double-blind RCTs, pre-specified subgroup analysis, Searches May 1, 2020 to April 30, 2024; aggregate data stratified by baseline 25(OH)D and age obtained from study authors
- Updated
- Random effects model
- Stratified aggregate data
- Double-blind RCTs
- Pre-specified subgroup analysis
- Searches May 1, 2020 to April 30, 2024; aggregate data stratified by baseline 25(OH)D and age obtained from study authors
Pooled result
Overall ARI risk
Odds ratio
0.94
95% CI 0.88–1.00
P = 0.057
Vitamin Dvs Placebo
OR 0.94 (95% CI 0.88–1.00); P = 0.057
As reported in the abstract
Further pooled results
Effect modification by age, baseline vitamin D status, dosing frequency, or dose size
- Pre-specified subgroup analysis did not reveal evidence of effect modification
Publication bias (funnel plot)
- Funnel plot left-sided asymmetry, Egger's test
- P = 0.0020
Safety
| Outcome | OR (95% CI) | |
|---|---|---|
| ≥1 serious adverse event38 studies; I2=0.0% | 0.96 (0.90–1.04) | |
| 0.512Odds ratio (log scale) |
Original publication
Vitamin D supplementation to prevent acute respiratory infections: systematic review and meta-analysis of stratified aggregate data. Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol. Published 21 February 2025. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →