The Effect of Weekly 50,000 IU Vitamin D₃ Supplements on the Serum Levels of Selected Cytokines Involved in Cytokine Storm: A Randomized Clinical Trial in Adults with Vitamin D Deficiency

Abstract

This research aimed to evaluate the effects of high-dose cholecalciferol (VD3) 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 D3 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 D3 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 D3 supplementation. Although the observations of this trial may refer to a potential negative effect of VD3 supplementation during cytokine storms, further trials are required to clarify the potential benefits of VD3 supplement during cytokine storms.

Keywords

• vitamin D deficiency
• vitamin D₃
• cytokine
• storm
• interleukin 6
• interleukin 10