Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42104141›Full record

ReviewOsteoporosis international : a journal established as result of cooperation between the European Foundation for Osteoporosis and the National Osteoporosis Foundation of the USA2026

Vitamin D in inflammatory rheumatic diseases: still a challenge.

Osvaldo D Messina, Patricia Clark, Jorge Morales Torres, Wendy Dankers, Griselda-Adriana Cruz-Priego, Luis F Vidal Neira, Hennie Raterman, Mumbach Giselle, Giovanni Adami, Fidencio Cons Molina and 8 more

Abstract readReview
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In one paragraph

Review in Osteoporosis international : a journal established as result of cooperation between the European Foundation for Osteoporosis and the National Osteoporosis Foundation of the USA, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from 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.

2 · The registry

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.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

18 authors.

Osvaldo D MessinaIRO Clinical Research and Regenerative Medicine Center, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Patricia ClarkFacultad de Medicina UNAM, CDMX, Mexico, Hospital Infantil de México Federico Gómez, Mexico City, Mexico. clark@unam.mx.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7981-5357
Jorge Morales TorresHospital Aranda de La Parra, Leon-GTO, Mexico.
Wendy DankersAmsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Griselda-Adriana Cruz-PriegoFacultad de Medicina UNAM, CDMX, Mexico, Hospital Infantil de México Federico Gómez, Mexico City, Mexico.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0002-9467-4702
Luis F Vidal NeiraCentro de Diagnóstico de Osteoporosis y Enfermedades Reumáticas (CEDOR), Lima, Perú.
Hennie RatermanNorthwest Clinics, Alkmaar, The Netherlands.
Mumbach GiselleCentro de Investigación clínica de Endocrinología y metabolismo (CICEM), Posadas, Argentina.
Giovanni AdamiUniversity of Verona, Verona, Italy.
Fidencio Cons MolinaCentro de Investigación en Artritis y Osteoporosis, Mexicali, BC, México.
Gisela KluwakCentro de Ortopedia y Traumatología, Rosario, Argentina.
José L MansurCenter of Endocrinology and Osteoporosis, La Plata, Argentina.
Jean-Yves ReginsterProtein Research Chair, Biochemistry Dept, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6290-752X
José Luis NeyroMedical Sciences Academy of Bilbao, Bilbao, España.
Leith ZakraouiHospitalo-universitaire chez Ministere de la Sante, Tunis, Tunisia.
Neil BinkleyUniversity of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA.
Maritza VidalCentro de Diagnóstico de Osteoporosis y Enfermedades Reumáticas (CEDOR), Lima, Perú.
Willem F LemsAmsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeTo critically evaluate the current evidence on the role of vitamin D in inflammatory rheumatic diseases, including its association with disease activity, potential immunomodulatory effects, and the clinical impact of supplementation.

methodsA narrative review was conducted based on a comprehensive search of MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, and Epistemonikos databases up to October 2025. Eligible studies included randomized controlled trials, observational studies, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses evaluating vitamin D status and/or supplementation in adult patients with inflammatory rheumatic diseases. Evidence was synthesized qualitatively, prioritizing study design and level of evidence.

resultsVitamin D deficiency is highly prevalent across inflammatory rheumatic diseases and is associated with higher disease activity, fatigue, and poorer musculoskeletal outcomes. Experimental data support immunomodulatory effects; however, clinical evidence remains heterogeneous. Randomized controlled trials demonstrate that supplementation effectively corrects deficiency and is safe, with modest improvements in disease activity and fatigue mainly in patients with low baseline 25(OH)D levels. In contrast, large trials and Mendelian randomization studies do not support a causal role of vitamin D in disease onset or sustained remission. Meta-analyses show small and inconsistent benefits, limited by heterogeneity in study design, dosing regimens, and populations.

conclusionVitamin D deficiency is a common and clinically relevant finding in inflammatory rheumatic diseases. While supplementation reliably restores adequate levels and may provide modest clinical benefits in deficient patients, current evidence does not support a causal or disease-modifying role. Maintaining serum 25(OH)D ≥30 ng/mL remains advisable for skeletal health, whereas its immunological benefits require further investigation through well-designed randomized trials.

Indexed as

Rheumatic DiseasesVitamin DVitamin D DeficiencyDietary SupplementsHumansRandomized Controlled Trials as TopicVitamin D25-hydroxyvitamin DDisease activityImmune modulationInflammatory rheumatic diseasesPsoriatic arthritisRheumatoid arthritisSpondyloarthritisSystemic lupus erythematosusSystemic sclerosisVitamin D

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Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.