Vitamin D Supplementation for Treating Atopic Dermatitis in Children and Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

source extracted confidence: high 2026-04-09
#adult #child #humans #dermatitis-atopic #dietary-supplements

Vitamin D Supplementation for Treating Atopic Dermatitis in Children and Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Nielsen et al., 2024 | Nutrients | Meta Analysis

Citation

Nielsen Amalie Ying, Høj Simon, ... Meteran Howraman. Vitamin D Supplementation for Treating Atopic Dermatitis in Children and Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Nutrients. 2024-Nov-28;16(23). doi:10.3390/nu16234128

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease affecting up to 20% of children and 10% of adults worldwide. Current research suggests a correlation between serum vitamin D level and AD severity and that vitamin D supplementation could have a potential therapeutic effect on AD. OBJECTIVES: To conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies of vitamin D supplementation for disease improvement in children and adults with AD. METHODS: PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane were searched from 19 April to 20 April 2024. We included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of patients with AD comparing an intervention group with a control group. The risk of bias of the selected studies was assessed using the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool for randomized trials. All analyses were conducted in R (v4.1.2; R Core Team 2021). RESULTS: Eleven RCTs with 686 participants were included. The included trials had measured AD severity by using the SCOring Atopic Dermatitis (SCORAD) or the Eczema Area and Severity Index (EASI). Vitamin D supplementation significantly reduced AD severity compared with the control group (standardized mean difference = -0.41, 95% CI: -0.67 to -0.16, I2 = 58%, p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Vitamin D supplementation reduces AD severity in children and adults. Larger-scale and longer-term studies are still needed to confirm this conclusion. This study has been registered on PROSPERO (CRD42024535014).

Key Findings

Eleven RCTs with 686 participants were included. The included trials had measured AD severity by using the SCOring Atopic Dermatitis (SCORAD) or the Eczema Area and Severity Index (EASI). Vitamin D supplementation significantly reduced AD severity compared with the control group (standardized mean difference = -0.41, 95% CI: -0.67 to -0.16, I2 = 58%, p < 0.01).

Outcomes Measured

  • inflammatory markers

Population

Field Value
Population ad comparing an intervention
Sample Size 686
Age Range See abstract
Condition See abstract

MeSH Terms

  • Adult
  • Child
  • Humans
  • Dermatitis, Atopic
  • Dietary Supplements
  • Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Vitamin D

Evidence Classification

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

Provenance

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