09.27.07
Indication: Total mortality
Source: Arch Intern Med 2007;167:1730-1737. (meta-analysis)
Research: Ecological and observational studies suggest that low vitamin D status could be associated with higher mortality from life-threatening conditions, including cancer, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes mellitus, which account for 60-70% of total mortality in high-income countries. Researchers examined the risk of dying from any cause in subjects who participated in randomized trials testing the impact of vitamin D supplementation on any health condition. They identified 18 independent randomized, controlled trials, which included over 57,000 participants.
Results: A total of 4777 deaths from any cause occurred over the course of nearly 7 years. Daily doses of vitamin D supplements varied from 300-2000 IU-the mean daily vitamin D dose was 528 IU. In nine trials, there was a 1.4- to 5.2-fold difference in serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D between the intervention and control groups. Researchers noted that the intake of ordinary doses of vitamin D supplements seems to be associated with decreases in total mortality rates. However, the relationship between baseline vitamin D status, dose of vitamin D supplements, and total mortality rates remains to be investigated. As a result, researchers believe population-based, placebo-controlled, randomized trials with total mortality as the main end point should be organized for confirming these findings.