Trial of Vitamin D Supplementation in Infants with Bronchiolitis: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study

Background: There is interesting growing evidence for a relationship between bronchiolitis and vitamin D. This suggests a possible benefit from vitamin D therapy to children with bronchiolitis. Methods: A double-blind, randomized clinical trial was performed on 89 infants with bronchiolitis. Patients were randomized to receive vitamin D or placebo. Results: The intervention group, which received vitamin D therapy, had significant improvement in three parameters: the mean time taken for resolution of the disease, the mean time taken for the improvement of oral feeding, and the duration of hospitalization. All these outcomes in the intervention group (vitamin D) were significantly better than the control (placebo) group with p<0.001, p<0.05, and p<0.01 respectively. The study supported the efficacy of vitamin D therapy in bronchiolitis. Conclusion: This double-blinded, randomized placebo controlled trial of 100IU/kg vitamin D supplementation daily in Egyptian children with bronchiolitis found a clinically and statistically significant reduction in hospitalization with rapid recovery of the disease. The study suggests that short-term supplementation with vitamin D given daily during the course of illness, starting from day 1, may help in resolution of bronchiolitis.