title: Potential benefits of vitamin D supplementation in critically ill patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To review potential benefits of vitamin D supplementation in critically ill patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  The data were collected by searching Scopus, PubMed/Medline, ScienceDirect, Clinical trials and Cochrane database systematic reviews. The keywords used as search terms were 'vitamin D', 'critically ill patients', 'ICU' and 'sepsis'.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Vitamin D deficiency is common in patients admitted to emergency departments, medical and surgical intensive care units. Positive effects of vitamin D on the immune system through decreasing inflammatory cytokines and increasing natural anti-infective molecules have been reported. Patients with low serum vitamin D concentrations experienced longer hospital stay and were more prone to nosocomial infections, including blood stream and respiratory infections. However, a correlation between vitamin D serum level and patients' mortality is not fully described. Limited studies have assessed effects of vitamin D supplementation on morbidity and mortality in critically ill patients. In the future, well-designed randomized clinical trials should describe the best dose, route and duration of vitamin D supplementation in critically ill patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Enghelab Avenue, postal code 1417614411, PO box 14155/6451, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Mandana
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Izadpanah
authors.forename: Hossein
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Khalili
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D016638:Critical Illness; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000150:complications / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D006801:Humans; D007109:Immunity / Q000187:drug effects; D016019:Survival Analysis; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000150:complications / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*
chemical_list: D014807:Vitamin D