Acute Lower Respiratory Infections in Children - associated with low vitamin D – meta-analysis

Vitamin D Deficiency and Acute Lower Respiratory Infections in Children Younger Than 5 Years: Identification and Treatment

Journal of Pediatric Health Care, Volume 28, Issue 6, November–December 2014, Pages 572–582

Allison Larkin, MS, NP-C, , Jane Lassetter, PhD, RN

Introduction

Acute lower respiratory infection (ALRI) is a leading cause of childhood mortality. Research suggests that vitamin D deficiency (VDD) puts children at risk for ALRI. The purpose of this review is to examine ALRI and VDD in children 5 years and younger. Common etiologies, diagnosis, prevention, treatment of ALRI, and recommendations for vitamin D supplementation are summarized.

Method

Databases were searched for studies investigating VDD and ALRI in children. Independent reviewers assessed the internal validity of the studies.

Results

Of 18 studies examined, VDD was found to be associated with increased risk or severity of ALRI in 13 studies ; associations were not found in 4 studies. In one study it was found that high maternal vitamin D levels was associated with ALRI in infants.

Discussion

Vitamin D supplementation is a low-cost, low-risk intervention that providers should consider for children, especially those at high risk for ALRI. Practitioners should follow current recommendations when prescribing vitamin D supplementation for infants and children.

See also VitaminDWiki

• Vitamin D reduces respiratory tract infections by 40 percent– meta-analysis Dec 2012

• Acute lower respiratory infection 5X more frequent with low vitamin D intake – June 2012

• Newborn acute lower respiratory tract infection associated with low maternal vitamin D – March 2015 infants

• Acute respiratory infection treated by vitamin D in 6 of 12 clinical trials – review Nov 2012

• Respiratory tract infections in childhood – vitamin D is needed, no consensus of how much – Oct 2015

• COVID ARDS deaths 2X more likely if less than 10 ng of Vitamin D – Aug 8, 2020

• Acute respiratory tract infections prevented by vitamin D (even when ignoring the dose size – Meta-analysis Feb 2017

• Acute respiratory infection worsened by too infrequent vitamin D supplementation – RCT June 2015

• Acute respiratory distress – 100 percent of patients were vitamin D deficient– April 2015

• Acute respiratory infection treated by vitamin D in 6 of 12 clinical trials – review Nov 2012

See also web

• Global burden of acute lower respiratory infections due to respiratory syncytial virus in young children: a systematic review and meta-analysis May 2010
  • Free PDF on-line. One of the causes of ALRI is a virus
  • Pneumonia "is life-threatening in the elderly or those who are immunocompromised" Wikipedia
• Effect of Vitamin D3 Supplementation on Respiratory Tract Infections in Healthy Individuals: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials - Sept 2016
  • appears that none of the trials used > 2,000 IU daily
  • 📄 Download the PDF from VitaminDWiki