VITAMIN D SUPPLEMENTATION IN BURN PATIENTS: EFFECTS ON WOUND HEALING AND CLINICAL OUTCOMES — A NARRATIVE REVIEW

Urszula Jarzęcka; Anna Świerczek; Oskar Mikołajczyk; Irmina Grygutis; Sonia Pawełkiewicz; Kornelia Julia Fimiarz; Aleksandra Serafin; Maja Podolak; Karolina Baran; Marta Kaczorek

doi:10.31435/ijitss.3(51).2026.6032

Authors

Urszula Jarzęcka Medical Centre for Postgraduate Education, Professor W. Orlowski Memorial Hospital, Czerniakowska 231, 00-416 Warsaw, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0009-1160-8541
Anna Świerczek Beskid Oncology Center Municipial Hospital of John Paul II, Wyzwolenia 18, 43-300 Bielsko - Biała, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0006-9612-237X
Oskar Mikołajczyk Infant Jesus Clinical Hospital, Williama H. Lindleya 4, 02-005 Warsaw, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0006-8470-6845
Irmina Grygutis Nicolaus Copernicus Hospital in Gdańsk, Gdańsk, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0008-2863-3471
Sonia Pawełkiewicz Nicolaus Copernicus Hospital in Gdańsk, Gdańsk, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0000-4087-5766
Kornelia Julia Fimiarz, Nicolaus Copernicus Hospital in Gdańsk, Gdańsk, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0004-2867-9980
Aleksandra Serafin Czerniakowski Hospital Sp. z o. o., Stępińska 19/25, 00-739 Warsaw, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0002-2573-0811
Maja Podolak Mazovian Bródnowski Hospital Sp. z o.o., ul. Kondratowicza 8, 03-242 Warsaw, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0005-5409-8511
Karolina Baran John Paul II Western Hospital in Grodzisk Mazowiecki, Daleka 11, 05-825 Grodzisk Mazowiecki, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0006-3076-2892
Marta Kaczorek Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology Sobieskiego 9, 02-957 Warsaw, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0007-1406-2076

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.31435/ijitss.3(51).2026.6032

Keywords:

Vitamin D, Burn Injury, Wound Healing, Cholecalciferol, Critical Care, Supplementation

Abstract

Background: Burn injury induces profound metabolic, endocrine, and immunologic disturbances associated with impaired wound healing, increased infection risk, and prolonged recovery. Vitamin D deficiency is highly prevalent in patients with moderate-to-severe burns due to impaired cutaneous synthesis and altered metabolism.

Objective: This narrative review summarizes current evidence regarding vitamin D deficiency and supplementation in burn patients, with emphasis on wound healing, infectious complications, and clinical outcomes.

Methodology: A literature review was conducted using PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar databases. Clinical trials, observational studies, reviews, and meta-analyses published primarily between 2000 and 2025 were evaluated.

Results: Available evidence demonstrated that vitamin D deficiency is common in burns involving ≥20% total body surface area and is associated with delayed wound healing, increased infectious complications, prolonged ICU and hospital stay, and long-term musculoskeletal abnormalities.

Conclusion: Vitamin D appears to contribute to wound repair, immune modulation, and systemic recovery after burn injury; however, standardized burn-specific supplementation protocols remain unavailable.

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