WORLD JOURNAL OF ADVANCE
HEALTHCARE RESEARCH

*Rasha Saad Sharad, Ahmed Fadhil Alkafagi, Jawad Ibrahim Al-Sharif

ABSTRACT

Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) and end-stage renal disease (ESRD) are associated with persistent inflammation and oxidative stress, which contribute to adverse outcomes. Vitamin D deficiency is common in ESRD patients and is thought to exacerbate inflammatory processes. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the impact of vitamin D supplementation on inflammatory markers in ESRD patients with vitamin D deficiency. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 100 ESRD patients undergoing hemodialysis at the Iraqi Center of Dialysis, Baghdad Teaching Hospital, between September 2023 and December 2024. All participants had vitamin D levels <20 ng/mL, elevated parathyroid hormone (>300 pg/mL), and hypocalcemia (<8.5 mg/dL). Patients were divided into two groups: one received vitamin D supplementation, and the other received a placebo for four weeks. Inflammatory markers, including C-reactive protein (CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and interleukin-6 (IL-6), were measured pre- and post-intervention using ELISA. Results: Following vitamin D supplementation, significant reductions were observed in CRP (from 1.67 ± 0.15 to 1.01 ± 0.1 mg/dL), ESR (from 33.4 ± 10.5 to 21.4 ± 9.8 mm/hr), and IL-6 levels (from 59.9 ± 15.8 to 41.2 ± 12.2 pg/mL) (p < 0.05 for all). These findings support vitamin D’s potential anti-inflammatory role in ESRD. Conclusion: Vitamin D supplementation significantly reduces key inflammatory markers in ESRD patients with vitamin D deficiency. Further large-scale, randomized controlled trials are warranted to confirm these findings and explore long-term outcomes.