Abstract

Among asthmatic children, recurrent wheezing is considered a major complication and a significant health concern. Emerging evidence in the literature suggests a potential association between vitamin D deficiency and respiratory disorders, given its immunomodulatory role in reducing airway inflammation. However, the effectiveness of vitamin D supplementation in reducing recurrent wheezing remains controversial. The current systematic review aimed to evaluate the role of vitamin D and vitamin D supplements on wheezing progression in pediatric populations. This systematic review was conducted among studies in literature across different databases, in order to collect relevant studies published up to the year 2025. Inclusion criteria included randomized controlled studies, cohort studies, and observational studies that assessed the association between vitamin D level, vitamin D supplementation, and recurrent wheezing among children. This review included 10 studies among 3,552 children, where most of the studies reported a significant relationship between low levels of vitamin D and an increase in episodes of wheezing. Several studies reported that the use of vitamin D supplementation led to a reduction in wheezing frequency and severity, particularly among children with baseline low vitamin D. However, one study showed no significant improvement in asthma control or exacerbation rates. The findings suggested that vitamin D supplementation might be beneficial in reducing recurrent wheezing episodes in children, particularly in those with vitamin D deficiency. However, due to inconsistencies in study results, further well-designed randomized controlled trials with standardized supplementation protocols are needed to confirm these effects and establish optimal dosing strategies.

Key words: Vitamin D, supplementation, recurrent wheezing, pediatric asthma, systematic review