SynthesisBMC pediatrics2025
The role of vitamin D in the prevention and treatment of acute respiratory infections in pediatric populations: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
Synthesis in BMC pediatrics, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 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
2 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
- Comparative efficacy of nutritional supplements for the prevention of respiratory tract infections in children: a systematic review and network meta-analysis.BMC infectious diseases · 2026Pooled it
- Article
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
Abstract
backgroundAcute respiratory infections (ARIs) remain a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in pediatric populations worldwide. Vitamin D has immunomodulatory functions that may influence susceptibility and outcomes of respiratory infections, yet trial results in pediatric populations remain inconsistent.
methodsA systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) was conducted in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library were searched through April 2025. Eligible RCTs enrolled pediatric populations, comparing oral vitamin D supplementation with placebo or no treatment, and reported ARI-related outcomes. Pooled risk ratios (RRs) or mean differences (MDs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using random- or fixed-effects models.
resultsSeventeen RCTs including 18,372 participants were analyzed. Overall, vitamin D supplementation did not significantly reduce ARI incidence (RR = 0.82, 95% CI: 0.64 to 1.06), hospitalization duration (MD = 0.03 days, 95% CI: -0.72 to 0.78), recovery time (MD = -4.36 h, 95% CI: -11.87 to 3.15), or all-cause mortality (RR = 0.88, 95% CI: 0.60 to 1.28). Subgroup analysis showed preventive benefit with daily low-dose regimens (≤ 1000 IU/day; RR = 0.42, 95% CI: 0.27 to 0.66), but not with higher doses. Supplementation was associated with fewer serious adverse events (RR = 0.83, 95% CI: 0.71 to 0.96).
conclusionVitamin D supplementation cannot be recommended as a universal intervention for childhood ARIs. Preventive efficacy may be achieved with daily low-dose regimens, but supplementation does not improve clinical outcomes once infection occurs. Vitamin D appears safe, and further high-quality pediatric trials are warranted to define optimal dosing strategies.
trial registrationCRD420251133291.
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Registered trials
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 Socratic graph.