The health outcomes of vitamin D supplementation in Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Publication date: Jul 04, 2025

Vitamin D supplementation is essential for health, yet its full benefits and optimal use remain incompletely understood, particularly given the global prevalence of deficiency, which affects around 50% of the population, with higher rates in high-latitude regions and among individuals with darker skin. This systematic review synthesizes evidence on the health outcomes of vitamin D supplementation in Africa, addressing gaps in regional and demographic-specific research. A comprehensive literature search was conducted using PubMed, Scopus, Epistemonikos, and Google Scholar, limited to English-language publications without date restrictions. Two independent reviewers evaluated study eligibility, data quality, and risk of bias. The findings were reported in accordance with PRISMA guidelines, employing narrative synthesis and meta-analyses to compare the effects of vitamin D supplementation against control groups. Heterogeneity and publication bias were assessed using Egger’s regression and Q statistics. The review included 14 randomized controlled trials from 9 African countries, involving 11,259 participants. Half of the studies reported health benefits associated with vitamin D supplementation. Meta-analysis of seven studies demonstrated significant increases in serum vitamin D levels (odds ratio = 6. 78, p 

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