Background: Chronic rhino-sinusitis with nasal polyps [CRSwNP] is a prevalent disease that has an important influence on patient quality of life. Vitamin D3 [VD3] has been shown to suppress the proliferation of fibroblasts generated from nasal polyps.
Aim of the work: The aim of this work is to evaluate the safety and efficacy of vitamin D3 in decreasing the severity and size of sino-nasal polyps in patients with vitamin D3 insufficiency.
Methods: This study is a prospective cohort study conducted on 46 patients with chronic rhino-sinusitis with nasal polyps with vitamin D3 insufficiency [low levels of vitamin D3 < 30 ng/ml]. Included patients were divided into 2 groups, the first group were 22 patients given vitamin D3 [200,000 IU] intramuscular [IM], and the other control group included 20 patients were given placebo in the same manner as the first group. The two groups were assessed before vitamin D3 and placebo supplementation and after 3 months with endoscopic Meltzer grading score and CT scan.
Results: Based on endoscopic Meltzer scores, there was improvement among 68.3% of vitamin D3 group vs. 20% of the placebo group; the severity of sino-nasal polyps was observed to be considerably reduced in vitamin D3 group in comparison to placebo group. CT finding reported 40.9% of vitamin D3 group improved vs. 10% of placebo group], the improvement of CT was changing of the affected sinuses from complete to partial opacification.
Conclusion: Vitamin D3 has an effective way in lowering the severity of nasal polyps and alleviating their manifestations.