High Dose Vitamin D No Advantage In Preventing Pediatric Viral Infections

MedicalResearch.com Interview with:

Jonathon Maguire MD MSc FRCPC Scientist, Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute

Dr. Maguire

Jonathon Maguire MD MSc FRCPC
Scientist, Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute
Staff Pediatrician, Department of Pediatrics, St. Michael’s Hospital

MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings?

Response: Vitamin D has been hypothesized as being protective of seasonal viral upper respiratory tract infections.  In this randomized clinical trial, high dose wintertime vitamin D supplementation (2000 IU/day) was compared with standard-dose vitamin D supplementation (400 IU/day) among 703 children.  The number of laboratory confirmed viral upper respiratory tract infections was not statistically different between groups.

MedicalResearch.com: What should clinicians and patients take away from your report?

Response: High dose wintertime vitamin D supplementation is unlikely to prevent viral upper respiratory tract infections relative to standard dose vitamin D supplementation in children.

MedicalResearch.com: What recommendations do you have for future research as a result of this study?

Response: Given that high dose vitamin D supplementation appears to provide no protective advantage over standard dose vitamin D supplementation in children, future research might investigate whether standard dose vitamin D offers protection from viral upper respiratory tract infections relative to placebo.

MedicalResearch.com: Thank you for your contribution to the MedicalResearch.com community.

Citation:

Aglipay M, Birken CS, Parkin PC, Loeb MB, Thorpe K, Chen Y, Laupacis A, Mamdani M, Macarthur C, Hoch JS, Mazzulli T, Maguire JL, for the TARGet Kids! Collaboration. Effect of High-Dose vs Standard-Dose Wintertime Vitamin D Supplementation on Viral Upper Respiratory Tract Infections in Young Healthy Children. JAMA. 2017;318(3):245-254. doi:10.1001/jama.2017.8708

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Last Updated on July 18, 2017 by Marie Benz MD FAAD