High-dose vitamin D versus placebo to prevent complications in COVID-19 patients: Multicentre randomized controlled clinical trial

Study answer

What this study found

High-dose vitamin D3 did not prevent respiratory deterioration or improve clinical outcomes compared with placebo. The primary outcome, change in rSOFA from baseline to day 7, was 0.0 (0.0-1.0) in both groups, with a between-group difference of 0.00 (-0.18 to 0.15; p = 0.825). Other key outcomes were also null, including change in SpO2 (-1.0 vs -1.0; p = 0.952), length of stay (6.0 vs 6.0 days; p = 0.632), ICU admission (7.8% vs 10.7%; RR 0.73, 0.32 to 1.70; p = 0.622), and in-hospital death (4.3% vs 1.9%; RR 2.24, 0.44 to 11.29; p = 0.451). Serious adverse events occurred in 14.8% of the…

Study & population

Multicentre randomized controlled clinical trial conducted in 17 hospitals in four provinces of Argentina from August 2020 to June 2021.

Intervention

Participants in the active arm received a single oral dose of vitamin D3 500,000 IU as five 100,000 IU soft gel capsules, administered as soon as possible after randomization, versus matching placebo.

Key limitation

The trial tested only a single very high dose, so it does not address repeated dosing or other regimens.

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Original abstract