Positive Effects of Vitamin D Supplementation in Patients Hospitalized for COVID-19: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial
RCT with 21 vitamin D and 22 placebo hospitalized patients in Belgium with vitamin D deficiency, showing significantly shorter hospitalization and improved clinical recovery with treatment.
risk of death, 65.1% lower, RR 0.35, p = 0.61, treatment 1 of 21 (4.8%), control 3 of 22 (13.6%), NNT 11, COVID-19 mortality.
|
risk of death, 39.7% higher, RR 1.40, p = 0.70, treatment 4 of 21 (19.0%), control 3 of 22 (13.6%), all cause including after discharge and non-COVID-19.
|
risk of ICU admission, 58.1% lower, RR 0.42, p = 0.41, treatment 2 of 21 (9.5%), control 5 of 22 (22.7%), NNT 7.6.
|
ICU time, 67.7% lower, relative time 0.32, p = 0.47, treatment 21, control 22.
|
risk of no hospital discharge, 79.6% lower, RR 0.20, p = 0.49, treatment 0 of 21 (0.0%), control 2 of 22 (9.1%), NNT 11, relative risk is not 0 because of continuity correction due to zero events (with reciprocal of the contrasting arm), day 36.
|
risk of no hospital discharge, 85.4% lower, RR 0.15, p = 0.23, treatment 0 of 21 (0.0%), control 3 of 22 (13.6%), NNT 7.3, relative risk is not 0 because of continuity correction due to zero events (with reciprocal of the contrasting arm), day 28.
|
risk of no hospital discharge, 85.4% lower, RR 0.15, p = 0.23, treatment 0 of 21 (0.0%), control 3 of 22 (13.6%), NNT 7.3, relative risk is not 0 because of continuity correction due to zero events (with reciprocal of the contrasting arm), day 21.
|
risk of no hospital discharge, 65.1% lower, RR 0.35, p = 0.61, treatment 1 of 21 (4.8%), control 3 of 22 (13.6%), NNT 11, day 14.
|
risk of no hospital discharge, 65.1% lower, RR 0.35, p = 0.03, treatment 4 of 21 (19.0%), control 12 of 22 (54.5%), NNT 2.8, day 7.
|
recovery time, 45.4% lower, relative time 0.55, p = 0.06, treatment 21, control 22, fever.
|
hospitalization time, 50.0% lower, relative time 0.50, p = 0.003, treatment 21, control 22.
|
Effect extraction follows pre-specified rules prioritizing more serious outcomes. Submit updates
|

De Niet et al., 26 Jul 2022, Double Blind Randomized Controlled Trial, placebo-controlled, Belgium, peer-reviewed, 16 authors, study period August 2020 - August 2021, dosage 25,000IU days 1-4, 11, 18, 25, trial
NCT04636086 (history).
Contact:
sdeni@smb.be (corresponding author), mtrem@smb.be, mcoff@smb.be, afrouseau@chuliege.be, d.calmes@chuliege.be, affrix@chuliege.be, f.gester@chuliege.be, muriel.delvaux@chuliege.be, af.dive@chuliege.be, elora.guglielmi@chuliege.be, monique.henket@chuliege.be, alicia.staderoli@chuliege.be, renaud.louis@chuliege.be, j.guiot@chuliege.be, dmaesen@chuliege.be, etienne.cavalier@chu.ulg.ac.be.
Abstract: nutrients
Article
Positive Effects of Vitamin D Supplementation in Patients
Hospitalized for COVID-19: A Randomized, Double-Blind,
Placebo-Controlled Trial
Sophie De Niet 1, * , Mickaël Trémège 1 , Monte Coffiner 1 , Anne-Francoise Rousseau 2 , Doriane Calmes 3 ,
Anne-Noelle Frix 3 , Fanny Gester 3 , Muriel Delvaux 3 , Anne-Francoise Dive 3 , Elora Guglielmi 3 ,
Monique Henket 3 , Alicia Staderoli 3 , Didier Maesen 4 , Renaud Louis 3 , Julien Guiot 3 and Etienne Cavalier 5
1
2
3
4
5
*
Citation: De Niet, S.; Trémège, M.;
Coffiner, M.; Rousseau, A.-F.; Calmes,
D.; Frix, A.-N.; Gester, F.; Delvaux,
M.; Dive, A.-F.; Guglielmi, E.; et al.
Positive Effects of Vitamin D
Supplementation in Patients
Hospitalized for COVID-19: A
Randomized, Double-Blind,
Placebo-Controlled Trial. Nutrients
2022, 14, 3048. https://doi.org/
10.3390/nu14153048
Academic Editor: Connie Weaver
Received: 8 June 2022
Accepted: 19 July 2022
Published: 26 July 2022
Clinical Department, Laboratoires SMB SA, 1080 Brussels, Belgium; mtrem@smb.be (M.T.);
mcoff@smb.be (M.C.)
Department of Intensive Care, University of Liège, CHU Sart-Tilman, 4000 Liège, Belgium;
afrouseau@chuliege.be
Department of Pneumology and Allergology, University of Liège, CHU Sart-Tilman, 4000 Liège, Belgium;
d.calmes@chuliege.be (D.C.); affrix@chuliege.be (A.-N.F.); f.gester@chuliege.be (F.G.);
muriel.delvaux@chuliege.be (M.D.); af.dive@chuliege.be (A.-F.D.); elora.guglielmi@chuliege.be (E.G.);
monique.henket@chuliege.be (M.H.); alicia.staderoli@chuliege.be (A.S.); renaud.louis@chuliege.be (R.L.);
j.guiot@chuliege.be (J.G.)
Department of Hospital Pharmacy, CHU Sart-Tilman, 4000 Liège, Belgium; dmaesen@chuliege.be
Department of Clinical Chemistry, University of Liège, CIRM, CHU Sart-Tilman, 4000 Liège, Belgium;
etienne.cavalier@chu.ulg.ac.be
Correspondence: sdeni@smb.be; Tel.: +32-2-411-4828
Abstract: Retrospective studies showed a relationship between vitamin D status and COVID-19
severity and mortality, with an inverse relation between SARS-CoV-2 positivity and circulating
calcifediol levels. The objective of this pilot study was to investigate the effect of vitamin D supplementation on the length of hospital stay and clinical improvement in patients with vitamin D
deficiency hospitalized with COVID-19. The study was randomized, double blind and placebo
controlled. A total of 50 subjects were enrolled and received, in addition to the best available COVID
therapy, either vitamin D (25,000 IU per day over 4 consecutive days, followed by 25,000 IU per
week up to 6 weeks) or placebo. The length of hospital stay decreased significantly in the vitamin
D group compared to the placebo group (4 days vs. 8 days; p = 0.003). At Day 7, a significantly
lower percentage of patients were still hospitalized in the vitamin D group compared to the placebo
group (19% vs. 54%; p = 0.0161), and none of the patients treated with vitamin D were hospitalized
after 21 days compared to 14% of the patients treated with placebo. Vitamin D significantly reduced
the duration of supplemental oxygen among the patients who needed it (4 days vs. 7 days in the
placebo group; p = 0.012) and significantly improved the clinical recovery of the patients, as assessed
by the WHO scale (p = 0.0048). In conclusion, this study demonstrated that the clinical outcome of
COVID-19 patients requiring hospitalization was improved by administration of vitamin D.
Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral
with regard to jurisdictional claims..
Late treatment
is less effective
Please send us corrections, updates, or comments. Vaccines and
treatments are complementary. All practical, effective, and safe means should
be used based on risk/benefit analysis. No treatment, vaccine, or intervention
is 100% available and effective for all current and future variants. We do not
provide medical advice. Before taking any medication, consult a qualified
physician who can provide personalized advice and details of risks and
benefits based on your medical history and situation.
FLCCC and
WCH
provide treatment protocols.
Submit