Vitamin D was linked to lower mortality in sepsis, but evidence was uncertain
A review dominated by observational studies found an association with survival. Its low-certainty evidence cannot establish that supplementation caused the difference.
Based on the published abstract. The full paper may contain additional methods, results and limitations.
The 30-second takeaway
Vitamin D supplementation was associated with lower mortality in patients with sepsis across the reported timeframes. Most included evidence came from cohort studies, so differences between patients could contribute to the association. The review rated the evidence as low certainty, leaving a causal survival benefit unconfirmed in these patients.
Results varied substantially across studies, and certainty was rated low because of inconsistency and imprecision. The abstract does not describe comparison treatments or supplementation regimens.
What the review asked
The researchers examined whether vitamin D supplementation was linked to deaths soon after sepsis and later in follow-up. They pooled eligible studies reporting mortality at fixed follow-up points or during hospitalization.
How to read the result
The pooled estimates favored supplementation, but observational data dominated the review. The authors called for larger randomized trials to test whether the association reflects a treatment effect and to clarify its relevance to clinical care.
The original publication
Impact of vitamin D supplementation on short- and long-term mortality in sepsis: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
Zhang H, Feng W
Respir Med · 2025
- PubMed ID
- 41135909
- Record checked
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