Background Vitamin D may enhance immune system function and provide a protective effect against infections. Feto-maternal circulation plays an important role in supplying the developing fetus with nutrients and antibodies for its development and health during pregnancy and for its early years of life after birth. This meta-analysis aimed to determine the effectiveness of maternal vitamin D supplementation in preventing respiratory tract infections (RTIs) in children.
Methods We searched the Central and MEDLINE databases and went through all the reference lists in the related articles. We also searched for ongoing trials at http://www.who.int/ictrp/en/ and www.clinicaltrials.gov. Randomized controlled trials comparing vitamin D supplementation with a placebo or no treatment in pregnant women published in the English language up to March 2019 were included. Two reviewers extracted data independently using a predefined protocol and assessed the risk of bias using the Cochrane risk of bias tool, with differences agreed upon by consensus. The predefined primary outcome was the number of offspring who had RTIs. The secondary outcome was the presence of measurable serum immunoglobulin E levels.
Results Three trials involving 3,224 participants (mother–child pairs) met the inclusion criteria and were included in this review. The present analysis reported that maternal supplementation with vitamin D had no effect on RTIs among children (n=1,486 offspring; risk ratio, 0.95; 95% confidence interval, 0.82–1.11; random effects; I2 statistics, 0%).
Conclusion Maternal vitamin D supplementation had no effect on RTIs in children. Therefore, consideration of other prevention methods in this regard is recommended.
Citations
Citations to this article as recorded by
Vitamin D for preventing acute respiratory infections in children up to five years of age Marisa van Arragon, Cameron C Grant, Robert KR Scragg, Vanessa MB Jordan Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews.2026;[Epub] CrossRef
The effects of prenatal vitamin D supplementation on respiratory and allergy-related outcomes in children: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials Qin Li, Xiaoshuang Xu, Ying Liu, Shao Yin, Qian Hu, Qiang Ji, Yue Zhong, Fengya Zhu World Allergy Organization Journal.2025; 18(7): 101075. CrossRef
Vitamin D supplementation in pregnant or breastfeeding women or young children for preventing asthma Bonnie K Patchen, Cora M Best, Jocelyn Boiteau, Beate Stokke Solvik, Alexander Vonderschmidt, Jiayi Xu, Robyn T Cohen, Patricia A Cassano Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews.2025;[Epub] CrossRef
Women’s Health and Primary Care Seung-Won Oh Korean Journal of Family Medicine.2024; 45(1): 1. CrossRef
The Effects of Vitamin D Supplementation on Respiratory Infections in Children under 6 Years Old: A Systematic Review Larisa Mihaela Marusca, Gowry Reddy, Mihaela Blaj, Reshmanth Prathipati, Ovidiu Rosca, Felix Bratosin, Iulia Bogdan, Razvan Mihai Horhat, Gabriela-Florentina Tapos, Daniela-Teodora Marti, Monica Susan, Raja Akshay Pingilati, Florin George Horhat, Mavrea A Diseases.2023; 11(3): 104. CrossRef
Maternal vitamin D intakes during pregnancy and child health outcome Erdenebileg Nasantogtokh, Davaasambuu Ganmaa, Shirchinjav Altantuya, Bayarsaikhan Amgalan, Davaasambuu Enkhmaa The Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.2023; 235: 106411. CrossRef
Effectiveness of Maternal Vitamin D Supplementation in Preventing Respiratory Tract Infections in Children Soo Young Kim Korean Journal of Family Medicine.2022; 43(3): 155. CrossRef
Background Breastfeeding is recognized as the optimal form of nutrition for the physical and neurological development of infants and is considered the most significant way to prevent child mortality. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of metoclopramide for enhancing milk production in lactating women.
Methods We searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials and MEDLINE for randomized controlled trials comparing metoclopramide with a placebo, no treatment, or other galactagogue drugs. We included breastfeeding women with term or preterm infants.
Results We retrieved 164 records from our search of the electronic databases and 20 records from other sources. Eight trials involving 342 lactating women that used metoclopramide were included in this review after assessing the eligibility criteria. The meta-analysis of these trials revealed that metoclopramide did not increase the milk volume of the intervention groups compared to that of the control groups. There was a significant increase in the serum concentrations of prolactin when the mothers were administered metoclopramide. No significant adverse events were reported.
Conclusion Metoclopramide did not improve milk production in lactating women. Therefore, we do not recommend using metoclopramide to increase milk production in lactating women.
Citations
Citations to this article as recorded by
Herbal galactagogues to improve breastmilk production and lactation in mothers of preterm babies: a systematic review of clinical trials Aislinn Cragg, Ilana Levene, Sharram Darabi, Merlin Willcox European Journal of Clinical Nutrition.2026; 80(2): 146. CrossRef
The Self-Reported Use and Perceived Effectiveness of Galactagogues by Breastfeeding Women in the Netherlands Maartje Conijn, Anneke L.M. Passier, Melanie K.E. van der Most, Petra J. Woestenberg Journal of Human Lactation.2026;[Epub] CrossRef
Comparative Study of Lactogenic Effect and Milk Nutritional Density of Oral Galactagogue in Female Rabbit Saurabh Maru, Sateesh Belemkar Current Protein & Peptide Science.2025; 26(2): 125. CrossRef
Consenso académico de prácticas de impacto de la lactancia en Colombia Nancy Bernal, Carlos Timossi, Maria Mercedes Pulido, Maria Isabel Uscher, Luz Stella Hidalgo, Carolina Gómez, María Emilia Contreras Pediatría.2025; 57(3): e574. CrossRef
Clinical evaluation of Ayush-SS granules in exclusively breastfeeding mothers with insufficient lactation: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial Upma Saxena, Sarada Ota, Shivshankar Rajput, Bhavna Anand, Arunabh Tripathi, Richa Singhal, Adarsh Kumar, Abhishek Lachyan International Breastfeeding Journal.2025;[Epub] CrossRef
Inducing Lactation in a Transgender Woman Without Galactagogues: A Case Report Baila Elkin, Alisa Duran, Kevin Rauwerdink, Elizabeth S. Goldsmith Journal of General Internal Medicine.2024; 39(11): 2110. CrossRef
Efficacy and safety of domperidone and metoclopramide on human milk production in postpartum mothers: a bayesian network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials Si Si, Ge Zhao, Guang Song, Jing Liu BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth.2024;[Epub] CrossRef
Safety of pharmacologically induced lactation Patrick L. Thøgersen, Ditte R. Gotfredsen, Christina Gade, Henrik Horwitz, Jon T. Andersen Adverse Drug Reaction Bulletin.2023; 341(1): 1323. CrossRef
First
Prev
