Effect of Vitamin D Supplementation, Food Fortification, or Bolus Injection on Vitamin D Status in Children Aged 2–18 Years: A Meta-Analysis

Meta-analyses on the effect of vitamin D intake on status in children are lacking, especially those focused on vitamin D–fortified foods. The objective of this meta-analysis was to investigate the effect of vitamin D interventions (fortified foods, supplements, bolus injections) on vitamin D status in children 2–18 y of age. Following PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines, literature searches were conducted up to December 2016. Randomized placebo-controlled vitamin D interventions in healthy children aged 2–18 y were included. A random-effects model was used with I2 assessing heterogeneity. We included 26 trials (5403 children) with interventions (n = 9 fortified foods, n = 15 supplements, n = 2 bolus injections) from 100–4000 IU vitamin D/d over 4 wk to 2 y. The serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] weighted mean difference for all 26 trials (23.5 nmol/L; 95% CI: 20.7, 26.3 nmol/L; I2 = 99.9%) resulted in a mean increase of 1.0 nmol/L (95% CI: 0.3, 1.7 nmol/L) for each increase of 100 IU vitamin D/d (per 1 μg/d : 0.4 nmol/L; 95% CI: 0.1, 0.7 nmol/L). The response per 100 IU vitamin D/d was greater in trials with a mean baseline serum 25(OH)D <30 nmol/L, with the use of fortified foods and with baseline vitamin D intakes <100 IU/d. In conclusion, the serum 25(OH)D response to vitamin D intake differs on the basis of baseline status, intakes, and delivery mode, but not age, sex, or latitude