SynthesisPloS one2024
Vitamin D supplementation for prevention of acute respiratory infections in older adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
Synthesis in PloS one, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 9 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
9 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
- The effect of vitamin D supplementation on antibiotic use: a meta-analysis based on randomized controlled trials.Frontiers in nutrition · 2024Pooled it
- Micronutrients and omega-3 PUFAs to promote healthy ageing: informing a physiology-based complementation strategy.GeroScience · 2026Review
- Article
- Association of Serum Vitamin D and Hematological Parameters with SARS-CoV-2 PCR Positivity: A Combined Biomarker Approach in Asymptomatic Children.International journal of molecular sciences · 2026Article
- Vitamin D in Gut and Systemic Immune Tolerance and in Infections' Risk: An International Evidence-Based Consensus Statement.Reviews in endocrine & metabolic disorders · 2026Review
- Vitamin D in Infectious Diseases: A Narrative Review Focusing on COVID-19, Long COVID, and Influenza.Nutrients · 2026Review
- Vitamin D-Induced Antimicrobial Peptides in Combating Viral Infections.Advances in experimental medicine and biology · 2026Review
- Vitamin D: A Nutraceutical Supplement at the Crossroad Between Respiratory Infections and COVID-19.International journal of molecular sciences · 2025Review
- Machine Learning and Mendelian Randomization Identify Allergic Rhinitis as Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Risk Factor With Validated Potential Candidate Biomarkers.International journal of genomics · 2025Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
5 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundAcute respiratory infections (ARIs) have a substantial impact on morbidity, healthcare utilization, and functional decline among older adults. Therefore, we systematically reviewed evidence from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to evaluate the efficacy and safety of vitamin D supplementation in preventing ARIs in older adults.
methodsPubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Library, and ClinicalTrials.gov were searched until 1 February 2024. RCTs evaluating the use of vitamin D supplements to protect older adults from ARIs were included. Two reviewers independently screened papers, extracted the data and assessed the risk of bias. Data were summarised as relative risks (RRs) or odds ratios (ORs) with corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Random effects meta-analyses were used to synthesise the results. GRADE was used to evaluate the quality of evidence. All the analysis were performed with Stata version 17.
resultsTwelve trials (41552 participants) were included in the meta-analysis. It showed that vitamin D supplementation probably does not reduce the incidence of ARIs (RR, 0.99; 95% CI, 0.97-1.02, I2 = 0%; moderate certainty). No significant effect of vitamin D supplementation on the risk of ARI was observed for any of the subgroups defined by baseline 25(OH)D concentration, control treatments, dose frequency, study duration, and participants' condition. However, there was a possibility, although not statistically significant, that vitamin D may reduce the risk of ARI in patients with a baseline 25(OH)D concentration <50 nmol/L (OR, 0.90; 95% CI, 0.79-1.04, I2 = 14.7%). Additionally, vitamin D supplements might result in little to no difference in death due to any cause, any adverse event, hypercalcinemia, and kidney stones.
conclusionsVitamin D supplementation among older adults probably results in little to no difference in the incidence of ARIs. However, further evidence is needed, particularly for individuals with vitamin D deficiency and populations residing in low and middle income countries.
trial registrationThis study was registered on PROSPERO (CRD42023451265).
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Registered trials
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