Vitamin D Supplementation Accelerates Chronic Wound Healing
Summary: This randomized controlled trial evaluated the effects of oral cholecalciferol (vitamin D3) supplementation on serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) levels and chronic wound healing in 46 patients with various chronic wounds and vitamin D insufficiency or deficiency (serum 25(OH)D <30 ng/mL). Participants were randomly assigned to an intervention group (n=23) receiving 6000 IU daily cholecalciferol for 5 weeks, followed by dose adjustment, or a control group (n=23) receiving standard wound care, dietary advice, and sunlight exposure guidance. Both groups followed TIME-based wound management. Of 40 completers with 57 wounds, the intervention group showed significantly higher serum 25(OH)D levels at week 5 and improved healing outcomes, including shorter healing time, greater wound area and depth reduction rates, and lower PUSH scores, compared to controls. No adverse effects from supplementation were reported.
Key Highlights:
- Oral cholecalciferol supplementation at 6000 IU daily significantly increased serum 25(OH)D concentrations in the intervention group (mean 36.75 ± 7.23 ng/mL at week 5) compared to controls (29.58 ± 5.29 ng/mL, P<0.01), reaching sufficiency levels (>30 ng/mL) in most participants.
- Mean wound healing time was substantially shorter in the intervention group (15.59 ± 6.27 days) versus the control group (26.16 ± 12.70 days, P<0.01), indicating accelerated recovery across various chronic wound types.
- The intervention group exhibited higher wound area reduction rates (median 100% by week 3) and wound depth reduction rates (median 100% by week 3) compared to controls (100% by weeks 5 and 6, respectively; P<0.05 from weeks 1-6 for area and weeks 3-5 for depth).
- PUSH scores decreased more rapidly in the intervention group (median 0 by week 3) than in controls (median 0 by week 5; P<0.05 from weeks 3-6), reflecting improved wound tissue, exudate, and overall healing.
- Supplementation was safe with no reported vitamin D toxicity symptoms, supporting its use as an adjunct to standard TIME-based wound care for patients with vitamin D deficiency.
Keywords: oral cholecalciferol, vitamin D deficiency, chronic wound healing, serum 25(OH)D, PUSH score, Hui Zhao, Xiaokun Wu, Haiyan Li