Last updated July 12, 2026
Key finding
The incidence of infection was significantly lower in the VD supplementation group (25%) compared with the control group (45%) (P = 0.01).
Vitamin D3 supplementation significantly reduced infection rates and improved wound healing in patients with diabetic foot ulcers.
Quick read
The essential study design details in one scan.
EvidenceScore™
Moderate
Study type
RCTs
Follow-up
Medium-Term (3–12 mo)
Risk of bias
Some Concerns
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Plain-language summary
A plain-language read of the study's main message and where it applies.
Study focus
Vitamin D3 supplementation significantly reduced infection rates and improved wound healing in patients with diabetic foot ulcers.
The findings suggest that Vitamin D3 supplementation could be a simple and effective strategy to improve outcomes for patients with diabetic foot ulcers. By reducing infection rates and enhancing wound healing, this intervention may lead to better overall management of diabetes-related complications, potentially reducing healthcare costs and improving patients' quality of life.
The study may have limited generalizability due to a specific population sample. Potential confounding factors were not fully controlled for. The sample size may not be large enough to detect all relevant effects.
Published in
Publication details and source links for this paper.
Yue-Qiao G, Ying-Hui G, Jun-Hui X. Vitamin D supplementation effectively reduces infection rate and promotes wound healing in patients with diabetic foot ulcers. World Journal of Diabetes. 2025;16(8):108166. doi:10.4239/wjd.v16.i8.108166
Vitamin D3 supplementation reduced the incidence of infection from 45% to 25% (P = 0.01).
Wound healing improved significantly, with a 60% reduction in ulcer size in the Vitamin D group compared to 35% in the control group (P < 0.01).
Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels increased from 16.5 ng/mL to 35.2 ng/mL in the Vitamin D group.
Evidence network
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This study contributes evidence to Vitamin D supplementation and Cathelicidin level as an immune marker, Incidence of new or recurrent infections, Levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6 and TNF-α), and 4 more.
This study contributes evidence to
Primary intervention
Vitamin D supplementation
Primary outcomes
Evidence topics
Primary intervention
Intervention and outcome relationships this study adds to the evidence network.
Editorial context
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Evidence network role
This section describes how the study fits into the current evidence network. It does not determine whether an intervention works on its own.
1
Related topics
7
Evidence pairs
228
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Evidence topic
Contributes evidence
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Primary evidence
Evidence topic
matched_intervention_and_outcome
Core evidence
The primary outcomes reported in this study.
Vitamin D supplementation → Cathelicidin level as an immune marker
Vitamin D supplementation → Cathelicidin level as an immune marker
Vitamin D supplementation → Incidence of new or recurrent infections
Vitamin D supplementation → Incidence of new or recurrent infections
Vitamin D supplementation → Levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6 and TNF-α)
Vitamin D supplementation → Levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6 and TNF-α)
Vitamin D supplementation → Occurrence of hypercalcemia as an adverse event
Vitamin D supplementation → Occurrence of hypercalcemia as an adverse event
Vitamin D supplementation → Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D
Vitamin D supplementation → Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D
Vitamin D supplementation → Severity of infections requiring systemic antibiotics or hospitalization
Vitamin D supplementation → Severity of infections requiring systemic antibiotics or hospitalization
Vitamin D supplementation → Wound healing rate measured by reduction in ulcer size
Vitamin D supplementation → Wound healing rate measured by reduction in ulcer size
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12 tracked topics
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Relationships organized using the Dediabetes Evidence Intelligence™ framework.
This study contributes to evidence on Vitamin D supplementation and Adipokine and Angiogenic Markers, Vitamin D supplementation and Cathelicidin level as an immune marker.
This study contributes to the evidence on the following intervention-outcome relationships.
Curated evidence collections and hubs this study is part of.
All studies measuring Adipokine and Angiogenic Markers
Measures Adipokine and Angiogenic Markers as a key outcome.
All studies on Vitamin D supplementation
Contributes to Vitamin D supplementation evidence base.
All studies measuring Cathelicidin level as an immune marker
Measures Cathelicidin level as an immune marker as a key outcome.
Latest published studies
Published within the last 2 years.
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6 results
1 results
6 results
6 results
1 results
Generated from the study's connected evidence using Evidence Intelligence™.
Vitamin D supplementation appears to improve Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D.
ConsistencyScore™: Results are consistent across studies.
Ranked evidence signals
Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D
EvidenceScore™ Strong | EvidenceScore™ 80.4 | strong positive | ConsistencyScore™ Consistent | 1 study
Why this answer: This answer is based on a single supporting study.
Limitations
Vitamin D supplementation appears to improve Cathelicidin level as an immune marker.
ConsistencyScore™: Consistency cannot yet be determined from the available evidence.
Ranked evidence signals
Cathelicidin level as an immune marker
EvidenceScore™ Emerging | EvidenceScore™ 59.0 | strong positive | ConsistencyScore™ Unclear | 1 study
Why this answer: This answer is based on a single supporting study.
Limitations
Vitamin D supplementation appears to improve Incidence of new or recurrent infections.
ConsistencyScore™: Consistency cannot yet be determined from the available evidence.
Ranked evidence signals
Incidence of new or recurrent infections
EvidenceScore™ Emerging | EvidenceScore™ 59.0 | strong positive | ConsistencyScore™ Unclear | 1 study
Why this answer: This answer is based on a single supporting study.
Limitations
Vitamin D supplementation appears to improve Levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6 and TNF-α).
ConsistencyScore™: Consistency cannot yet be determined from the available evidence.
Ranked evidence signals
Levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6 and TNF-α)
EvidenceScore™ Emerging | EvidenceScore™ 59.0 | strong positive | ConsistencyScore™ Unclear | 1 study
Why this answer: This answer is based on a single supporting study.
Limitations
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