Vitamin D replacement in children, adolescents and pregnant women in the Middle East and North Africa: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Abstract

Introduction Hypovitaminosis D affects one-third to two-thirds of children and pregnant women from the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. Objective To evaluate in infants, children, adolescents and pregnant women, from the MENA region, the effect of supplementation with different vitamin D doses on the change in 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] level reached, and other skeletal and non-skeletal outcomes. Methods This is a systematic review of randomized controlled trials of vitamin D supplementation conducted in the MENA region. We conducted a comprehensive literature search in 7 databases, without language or time restriction, until November 2016. Two reviewers abstracted data from the included studies, independently and in duplicate. We calculated the mean difference (MD) and 95% CI of 25(OH)D level reached when at least 2 studies were eligible in each comparison (low (< 800 IU), intermediate (800–2000 IU) or high (> 2000 IU) daily dose of vitamin D, or placebo). We pooled data using RevMan version 5.3. Results We identified a total of 15 eligible trials: one in infants, 4 in children and adolescents and 10 in pregnant women. In children and adolescents, an intermediate vitamin D dose (1901 IU/d), resulted in a mean difference in 25(OH)D level of 13.5 (95% confidence interval (CI) 8.1–18.8) ng/ml, compared to placebo, favoring the intermediate dose (p < 0.001). The proportion of children and adolescents reaching a 25(OH)D level ≥ 20 ng/ml was 74% in the intermediate dose group. In pregnant women, four trials started supplementation at 12–16 weeks of gestation and continued until delivery, and six trials started supplementation at 20–28 weeks’ gestation and stopped it at delivery. The MD in 25(OH)D level reached was 8.6 (95% CI 5.3–11.9) ng/ml (p < 0.001) comparing the high dose (3662 IU/d) to the intermediate dose (1836 IU/d), and 12.3 (95% CI 6.4–18.2) ng/ml (p < 0.001), comparing the high dose (3399 IU/d) to the low dose (375 IU/d). Comparing the intermediate (1832 IU/d) to the low dose (301 IU/d), the MD in 25(OH)D level achieved was 7.8 (95% CI 4.5–10.8) ng/ml (p < 0.001). The proportion of pregnant women reaching a 25(OH)D level ≥ 20 ng/ml was 80%–90%, 73% and 27%–43% in the high, intermediate, and low dose groups, respectively. The risk of bias in the included studies, for children, adolescents and pregnant women, ranged from low to high across all doamins. Conclusion In children, adolescents and pregnant women from the MENA, an intermediate vitamin D dose of 1000–2000 IU daily may be necessary to allow for the majority of the population to reach a desirable 25(OH)D level of 20 ng/ml. Further high quality RCTs are required to confirm/refute the beneficial impact of vitamin D supplementation on various clinically important outcomes. © 2017 Elsevier Inc.