The Effects of Vitamin D Supplementation on Glycemic Control, Lipid Profiles and C-Reactive Protein Among Patients with Cardiovascular Disease: a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

Background: Insulin resistance, dyslipidemia and chronic inflammation are important risk factors for cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Hence, vitamin D supplementation might be an appropriate approach to decrease the complications of CVD. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to determine the effects of vitamin D supplementation on glycemic control, lipid profiles, and C-reactive protein among patients with coronary artery disease.

Methods: Two independent authors systematically searched online databases including EMBASE, Scopus, Pub- Med, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science until 20th September 2018. Cochrane Collaboration risk of bias tool was applied to assess the methodological quality of included trials. The heterogeneity among the included studies was assessed using Cochran's Q test and I-square (I2) statistic. Data were pooled using a random-effects model and weighted mean difference (WMD) was considered as the overall effect size.

Results: A total of eight trials (305 participants in the intervention group and 325 in placebo group) were included in the current meta-analysis. Pooling effect sizes from studies revealed a significant reduction in fasting glucose (WMD): -15.67; 95% CI: -29.32, -2.03), insulin concentrations (WMD: -3.53; 95% CI: -4.59, -2.46) and homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (WMD: -1.07; 95% CI: -1.49, -0.66), and significant increase in the quantitative insulin-sensitivity check index (WMD: 0.02; 95% CI: 0.01, 0.03) following the administration of vitamin D. In addition, pooled analysis revealed a significant increase in serum HDL-cholesterol concentrations following vitamin D therapy (WMD: 3.08; 95% CI: 1.42, 4.73). Additionally, vitamin D supplementation significantly reduced C-reactive protein (CRP) levels (WMD: -0.75; 95% CI: -1.28, -0.23).

Conclusion: This meta-analysis demonstrated the beneficial effects of vitamin D supplementation on improving glycemic control, HDL-cholesterol and CRP levels among patients with CVD, though it did not affect triglycerides, total- and LDL-cholesterol levels.