Vitamin D Supplementation for Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo: A
Systematic Review
Abstract
Introduction: Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV), a
neuro-otological disorder accounting for nearly one-half of patients
with peripheral vestibular dysfunction, is commonly attributed to
displaced otoconia. These have been shown to have a biomineralization
close to that of bone, and Vitamin D deficiency has been associated with
BPPV. Objective: We aim to systematically review the available
literature on Vitamin D supplementation and BPPV intensity and
recurrence in adults. Design: We systematically reviewed the available
literature on Vitamin D supplementation and BPPV intensity and
recurrence. Articles were identified through searches of PubMed,
MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials
(CENTRAL), Current Controlled Trials, and ClinicalTrials.gov as well as
manual reviews of references, from 1947 to April 2020. The study
protocol was registered in the PROSPERO database (Trial Registration:
CRD42020183195). Results: A total of 179 abstracts were identified and
screened by two independent reviewers. Based on inclusion and exclusion
criteria, six studies were selected and subjected to a quality
assessment. In one randomized clinical trial (RCT), Vitamin D
supplementation was found to reduce annual recurrence rate of vertigo in
patient with BPPV and subnormal serum Vitamin D levels compared to
placebo (odds ratio [OR] 0.69, 95% Confidence Interval [CI]:
0.54, 0.90). Non-randomized clinical trials demonstrated the possibility
of a null effect in the random effects model (0.08[0.00, 1.56]). The
RCT was the only study to be considered as low risk of bias in the
overall evaluation. All of the non-randomized studies were assessed as
serious risk of bias. Conclusions: The intervention studies identified
consistently demonstrated a decrease in BPPV recurrence with
supplementation of Vitamin D in patients with subnormal Vitamin D
levels. Although there is a paucity of high-quality studies, the present
literature does highlight a role for optimization of Vitamin D levels in
patients with BPPV.