Vitamin D in burn-injured patients

•Vitamin D has many pleotropic effects. In addition to its traditional role in maintaining calcium uptake and bone mineral homeostasis, it has important roles in maintaining immune, cardiovascular and endocrine functions.•Sufficient vitamin D concentrations and supplementation of vitamin D may be of benefit in burn-injured patients, with low 25-hydroxyvitamin D observed in nearly all pediatric and most adult burn patients.•Vitamin D has primarily been studied in pediatric burn patients, focusing on bone marker measurements and the incidence of fractures.•The preferred vitamin D dose, formulation, and route of administration remain unknown, and there is limited data on the impact of vitamin D status on clinical outcomes. Recently, many studies have demonstrated pleotropic effects of vitamin D, including immune modulation and cardiovascular system activity. Sufficient vitamin D concentrations and supplementation of vitamin D may be of benefit in burn-injured patients. Low 25(OH)D has been observed in nearly all pediatric and most adult burn patients. Vitamin D has primarily been studied in pediatric burn patients, focusing on bone marker measurements and the incidence of fractures. The preferred vitamin D dose, formulation, and route of administration remain unknown, and there is limited data on the impact of vitamin D status on clinical outcomes. Further research should focus on determining optimal monitoring strategies, supplementation regimens and clinical outcomes like mortality, length of stay and incidence of sepsis.