Vitamin D and the critically ill patient.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

To summarize the current knowledge on vitamin D with a special focus on critically ill patients.

RECENT FINDINGS

Vitamin D deficiency is associated with adverse health outcomes including increased risk of cardiovascular disease, morbidity and mortality in the general population. In critically ill patients, the pleiotropic effects of vitamin D including its role in immune function are of great interest.

SUMMARY

To date, it is not clear whether vitamin D deficiency is a surrogate marker for increased morbidity or whether treatment with sufficiently large doses of vitamin D may improve patient outcome in an intensive care setting.