Vitamin D Deficiency or Supplementation and the Risk of Human Herpesvirus Infections or Reactivation: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Abstract

Background Vitamin D may protect against respiratory virus infections, but any association with herpesviruses is unclear. Methods We undertook a systematic review of vitamin D deficiency or supplementation and the risk of 8 human herpesviruses. Six databases and 4 gray literature databases were searched for relevant cohort studies, case–control studies, and clinical trials. Results Ten studies were included, all conducted among immunosuppressed patients. There was no evidence that vitamin D deficiency is associated with cytomegalovirus (CMV) disease (pooled risk ratio, 1.06; 95% CI, 0.66–1.7), herpes zoster after transplantation (1 study), or HHV-8 among HIV patients (1 study). Vitamin D supplementation may decrease herpes zoster among hemodialysis patients (1 study) or CMV disease after renal transplantation (1 study), but supplementation was not associated with reduced EBV viral load among multiple sclerosis patients (1 study). Conclusions Any association between vitamin D and herpesviruses remains inconclusive. Further studies in the general population are needed.

Dynamics of community-acquired meningitis syndrome outbreaks in southern France

“…10. 3389/fmicb.2022.1102130 Frontiers in Microbiology 10 frontiersin.org vitamin D deficiency related low sun exposure in winter, especially in people >70 years old, as previously reported (Lin et al, 2019(Lin et al, , 2020Cristian Ilie and Stefanescu, 2020). Accordingly, significant correlations between pathogen, gender and age differentially observed in Nimes and Marseille may simply reflect differences in the population structure in these two different cities.…”

“…Accordingly, in 2018 ( Broberg et al, 2018 ), the unusual persistence of mixed Enterovirus and Human parechovirus outbreaks infecting new-borns and children until the autumn correlated with a notable 2°C increase in autumn temperatures in October/November 2018 compared to seasonal norms ( Cabrerizo et al, 2015 ). Most intriguing was the observation that DNA viruses also adopted an outbreak pattern, with HSV-1 CAM being observed in elderly male patients in January–March, probably due to the HSV-1 reactivation ( Dudgeon, 1969 ; Taylor et al, 2002 ), which is potentially prompted by vitamin D deficiency related to low sun exposure in winter, especially in people >70 years old, as previously reported ( Lin et al, 2019 , 2020 ; Cristian Ilie and Stefanescu, 2020 ). Accordingly, significant correlations between pathogen, gender and age differentially observed in Nimes and Marseille may simply reflect differences in the population structure in these two different cities.…”

Association between vitamin D and incident herpes zoster: a UK Biobank study

“…A systematic review and meta-analysis published in 2021, combining 37 clinical trials of vitamin D supplementation, showed that taking vitamin D slightly decreased the risk of respiratory infections (odds ratio = 0.92, 95% CI = 0.86-0.99) (11). Our previous systematic review and meta-analysis found inconclusive evidence for any association between vitamin D and herpesviruses in studies conducted primarily among immunosuppressed individuals (12). One case-control study among people with CKD showed that vitamin D supplementation may decrease the odds of herpes zoster (13).…”

“… 11 The authors’ previous systematic review and meta-analysis found inconclusive evidence for any association between vitamin D and herpes viruses in studies conducted primarily among individuals who were immunosuppressed. 12 One case–control study among people with CKD showed that vitamin D supplementation may decrease the odds of HZ. 13 …”