The effect of vitamin D supplementation on plasma high sensitivity C-reactive protein and P-selectin in patients with thromboembolism and vitamin D deficiency: A randomised controlled trial

Abstract

Introduction: There is emerging data about the anti-inflammatory and anti-coagulation effects of vitamin D on deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE). Aims: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of vitamin D supplementation on the markers of inflammation and thrombosis in the vitamin D deficient patients with DVT or PTE. Materials and Methods: Our current study is a randomized clinical trial comprising 40 patients with diagnosed DVT or PTE and vitamin D deficiency (25(OH)D ≤ 30 ng/ml). Patients were randomized into group 1/intervention (n=20) or group2/control (n=20). Group1 received the vitamin D3 supplement; an oral pearl of vitamin D3 containing 50,000 IU vitamin D3 every week until 8 weeks followed by one pearl every two weeks until 4 weeks ( a total of 12 weeks), while control group did not receive vitamin D3. Inflammation and coagulation markers were measured at baseline, 1 and 3 months after the intervention. Results: The mean age among patients was 52.95±15.37 y. The mean serum level of 25(OH)D was 15.4±6.9. There was no significant decrease in hs-CRP among group 1 and 2 neither after 1 month (P=0.955) nor after 3 months (p=0.525) of intervention. The overall level of P-selectin was lower in intervention group but this difference was not significant. There was no significant diffence in P-selectin level between the two groups at the baseline (p=0.582), after 1 month (p=0.921) and after 3 months (p=0.795). Conclusion: vitamin D3 supplementation had no significant effect on hs-CRP or P-selectin after 3 months follow up among patients with DVT/PT and vitamin D deficiency. Larger trials with longer follow up period and larger sample size are needed to shed a light on vitamin D’s association with thrombosis.