Vitamin D Supplementation Improves Health-Related Quality of Life and Physical Performance in Children with Sickle Cell Disease and in Healthy Children.
Kelly A Dougherty, Joan I Schall, Chiara Bertolaso and 2 others
PMID 32507538WHAT IT FOUND
Twelve weeks of high-dose vitamin D lowered reported pain, fatigue and depressive symptoms in children with sickle cell disease; healthy children also had less fatigue and better upper-extremity function.
No placebo group was included.
Key findings
01After 12 weeks, children with HbSS reported less pain, fatigue and depressive symptoms and better upper-extremity function; healthy children reported less fatigue and better upper-extremity function.
02Total motor proficiency improved in both groups, with HbSS gains in strength and upper-limb coordination and healthy gains in manual dexterity, fine motor integration and speed and agility.
03Peak power improved in both groups, and dorsiflexion torque at 20 degrees improved in both; children with HbSS also improved dorsiflexion torque at -10 and 0 degrees and plantarflexion torque at -10 degrees.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTsWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
No placebo or untreated control group: all participants received vitamin D, so the study cannot separate the supplement effect from time, expectation or usual care. Small secondary analysis of a previously reported randomized trial, with 21 children with HbSS and 23 healthy controls. No statistically significant difference by dose was found, so dose groups were combined; the study cannot show whether 4000 IU or 7000 IU is better for these outcomes. Follow-up was only 12 weeks, so it does not show whether benefits last. The sample was African American children aged 5 to 20 years, and healthy controls excluded overweight or obese children, so results may not apply to other groups. Hydroxyurea therapy was not controlled; 10 children (48%) with HbSS were receiving it.
Declared interests
The authors declared no conflict of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude vitamin D supplementation alone caused the improvements. Children were randomized only to 4000 IU or 7000 IU vitamin D, not to placebo, and this secondary analysis did not include an untreated control group.