title: Effects of vitamin D supplementation to children diagnosed with pneumonia in Kabul: a randomised controlled trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether (i) supplementation of oral 100,000 iu of vitamin D(3) (cholecalciferol) along with antibiotics will reduce the duration of illness in children with pneumonia; (ii) supplementation will reduce the risk of repeat episodes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Double-blind individually randomised placebo-controlled trial in an inner-city hospital in Kabul, of 453 children aged 1-36 months, diagnosed with non-severe or severe pneumonia at the outpatient clinic. Children with rickets, other concurrent severe diseases, very severe pneumonia or wheeze, were excluded. Children were given vitamin D(3) or placebo drops additional to routine pneumonia treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Two hundred and twenty-four children received vitamin D(3;) and 229 received placebo. There was no significant difference in the mean number of days to recovery between the vitamin D(3) (4.74 days; SD 2.22) and placebo arms (4.98 days; SD 2.89; P = 0.17). The risk of a repeat episode of pneumonia within 90 days of supplementation was lower in the intervention (92/204; 45%) than the placebo group [122/211; (58%; relative risk 0.78; 95% CI 0.64, 0.94; P = 0.01]. Children in the vitamin D(3) group survived longer without experiencing a repeat episode (72 days vs. 59 days; HR 0.71; 95% CI 0.53-0.95; P = 0.02).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A single high-dose oral vitamin D(3) supplementation to young children along with antibiotic treatment for pneumonia could reduce the occurrence of repeat episodes of pneumonia.
authors: Aga Khan Health Services, Kabul, Afghanistan  Kabul Medical University, Kabul, Afghanistan.
authors: Semira
authors: S
authors: Manaseki-Holland
authors: Ghulam
authors: G
authors: Qader
authors: Mohammad
authors: M
authors: Isaq Masher
authors: Jane
authors: J
authors: Bruce
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Zulf Mughal
authors: Daniel
authors: D
authors: Chandramohan
authors: Gijs
authors: G
authors: Walraven
mesh_terms: D000346:Afghanistan / Q000453:epidemiology; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008297:Male; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D012008:Recurrence; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D014815:Vitamins / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D014815:Vitamins; D014807:Vitamin D