The Effect of Weekly 50,000 IU Vitamin D[sub.3] Supplements on the Serum Levels of Selected Cytokines Involved in Cytokine Storm: A Randomized Clinical Trial in Adults with Vitamin D Deficiency

• Published in: Nutrients 2023-02, Vol.15 (5)
• Main Authors: Bader, Dana A, Abed, Anas, Mohammad, Beisan A, Aljaberi, Ahmad, Sundookah, Ahmad, Habash, Maha, Alsayed, Ahmad R, Abusamak, Mohammad, Al-Shakhshir, Sami, Abu-Samak, Mahmoud
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Cytokines; Dietary supplements; Health aspects; Measurement; Physiological aspects; Vitamin D3
• ISSN: 2072-6643; 2072-6643
• DOI: 10.3390/nu15051188

This research aimed to evaluate the effects of high-dose cholecalciferol (VD[sub.3]) supplements (50,000 IU/week) on selected circulating cytokines associated with cytokine storms in adults with vitamin D deficiency. This clinical trial, based in Jordan, included 50 participants receiving vitamin D[sub.3] supplements (50,000 IU/week) for 8 weeks; the exact number was assigned to the control group. Interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-10 (IL-10), tumor necrotic factor-α (TNF-α), and leptin were measured in serum at baseline and 10 weeks (wash out: 2 weeks). Our results revealed that vitamin D[sub.3] supplementation significantly increased the serum levels of 25OHD, IL-6, IL-10, IL-1β, and leptin compared with baseline. In contrast, the serum level of TNF-α insignificantly increased in the group receiving vitamin D[sub.3] supplementation. Although the observations of this trial may refer to a potential negative effect of VD[sub.3] supplementation during cytokine storms, further trials are required to clarify the potential benefits of VD[sub.3] supplement during cytokine storms.