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

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.