Critical Appraisal of Large Vitamin D Randomized Controlled Trials

source extracted confidence: high 2026-04-09
#adolescent #adult #aged #child #dietary-supplements

Critical Appraisal of Large Vitamin D Randomized Controlled Trials

Pilz et al., 2022 | Nutrients | Meta Analysis

Citation

Pilz Stefan, Trummer Christian, ... März Winfried. Critical Appraisal of Large Vitamin D Randomized Controlled Trials. Nutrients. 2022-Jan-12;14(2). doi:10.3390/nu14020303

Abstract

As a consequence of epidemiological studies showing significant associations of vitamin D deficiency with a variety of adverse extra-skeletal clinical outcomes including cardiovascular diseases, cancer, and mortality, large vitamin D randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have been designed and conducted over the last few years. The vast majority of these trials did not restrict their study populations to individuals with vitamin D deficiency, and some even allowed moderate vitamin D supplementation in the placebo groups. In these RCTs, there were no significant effects on the primary outcomes, including cancer, cardiovascular events, and mortality, but explorative outcome analyses and meta-analyses revealed indications for potential benefits such as reductions in cancer mortality or acute respiratory infections. Importantly, data from RCTs with relatively high doses of vitamin D supplementation did, by the vast majority, not show significant safety issues, except for trials in critically or severely ill patients or in those using very high intermittent vitamin D doses. The recent large vitamin D RCTs did not challenge the beneficial effects of vitamin D regarding rickets and osteomalacia, that therefore continue to provide the scientific basis for nutritional vitamin D guidelines and recommendations. There remains a great need to evaluate the effects of vitamin D treatment in populations with vitamin D deficiency or certain characteristics suggesting a high sensitivity to treatment. Outcomes and limitations of recently published large vitamin D RCTs must inform the design of future vitamin D or nutrition trials that should use more personalized approaches.

Key Findings

Outcomes and limitations of recently published large vitamin D RCTs must inform the design of future vitamin D or nutrition trials that should use more personalized approaches.

Outcomes Measured

  • Requires manual extraction

Population

Field Value
Population vitamin d deficiency
Sample Size See abstract
Age Range See abstract
Condition deficiency

MeSH Terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Child
  • Dietary Supplements
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Nutrition Therapy
  • Pregnancy
  • Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
  • Vitamin D
  • Vitamin D Deficiency
  • Vitamins
  • Young Adult

Evidence Classification

  • Level: Meta Analysis
  • Publication Types: Journal Article, Meta-Analysis, Review
  • Vertical: vitamin-d

Provenance

Source extracted via PubMed E-utilities API on 2026-04-09