Effect of vitamin D supplementation on inflammatory biomarkers in children and adolescents: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials

Background: Numerous clinical trials have examined the beneficial effects of vitamin D supplementation in children and adolescents; however, the results of these studies are inconsistent. Therefore, we conducted the current systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the effect of vitamin D supplementation on inflammatory biomarkers in children and adolescents.Material and Methods: Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane library databases and EMBASE were searched between January ۱۹۹۰ and June ۲۰۲۴. Randomized controlled trials comparing vitamin D supplementation with a placebo or inflammatory biomarkers were included. Meta‐analysis was performed using random‐effects model. Publication bias was evaluated using standard methods and subgroup analysis and meta‐regression were carried out.Results: A total of ۲۳۲۰ articles were identified through database searching, of which, eleven RCTs the fifteen datasets were included in the meta‐analysis. Vitamin D supplementation does not have any significant effect on CRP status Weighed Mean Difference (WMD): -۰.۱۴ mg/dl, ۹۵%CI: -۰.۵۳to۰.۲۴, P=۰.۴۶۵), IL-۱۰ (WMD: ۰.۶, ۹۵%CI: -۰.۲۹to۰.۱۴۸, P=۰.۱۸۶, IL-۶ (WMD: ۰.۲۷, ۹۵%CI: -۰.۰۷to۰.۶۱, P=۰.۱۲۵), and TNF (WMD: -۱.۵۰, ۹۵% CI: -۱.۵۸to۰.۵۶, P=۰.۳۴۶).Conclusion: In conclusion, results from our meta-analysis offers that vitamin D supplementation doesn’t change inflammatory biomarkers significantly in children and adolescents.