Low-dose vitamin D improves lipid profile in children

Supplementation with vitamin D, particularly at the lower dosage of 600 IU/day, appears to confer positive effects on high-density lipoprotein (HDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and total cholesterol, with significant changes persisting after the supplementation period, a study has shown.

The investigators randomized 604 racially diverse schoolchildren aged 8‒15 years to supplementation with 600, 1,000, or 2,000 IU vitamin D₃/day for 6 months. They then assessed changes in HDL, LDL, total cholesterol, triglycerides, and blood glucose over 6 months and at 12 months. Finally, subgroup analyses were carried out by weight status and race.

Of the children, 40.9 percent were vitamin D-inadequate at baseline (<20 ng/mL; mean, 22.0 ng/mL), 46.4 percent were overweight/obese, and 60.9 percent had ≥1 suboptimal blood lipids or glucose.

Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D increased in all dosage groups over 6 months from baseline (mean change, 4.4, 5.7, and 10.7 ng/mL for 600, 1,000, and 2,000 IU/day, respectively; p<0.001), while HDL cholesterol (p=0.002) and triglycerides (p=0.02) increased in the 600 IU group and LDL cholesterol and total cholesterol decreased across dosage groups.

HDL cholesterol remained high in the 600 (p<0.001) and 1,000 (p=0.02) IU groups as did triglycerides in the 1,000 (p=0.04) and 2,000 (p=0.006) IU groups at 6 months following vitamin D supplementation.

Of note, the suppression of LDL (p=0.04) and total cholesterol (p<0.001) persisted in the 2,000 IU group only. Overall, no significant changes in blood glucose and similar responses by weight status and race were noted across dosages.

“Increases in triglycerides across dosage groups may be due to natural changes during adolescence warranting further study,” the investigators said.