Table 3 Results of subgroup and sensitivity analyses for evaluating the effect of vitamin D on lipid profile

Weight of subjects

Obesity[26, 27, 30]

3.22 [-0.70, 7.14]

P = 0.11

3.46 [0.17, 6.76]

P = 0.04

0.22 [-0.80, 1.23]

P = 0.68

-4.38 [-11.52, 2.76]

P = 0.23

Normal[22–25, 28, 29]

-0.68 [-5.12, 3.77]

P = 0.77

2.77 [-1.82, 7.36]

P = 0.24

-0.97 [-2.53, 0.59]

P = 0.22

2.83 [-7.10, 12.76]

P = 0.58

Interventional duration

> 1 year[23, 31]

-0.26 [-6.05, 5.54]

P = 0.93

1.92 [-3.11, 6.95]

P = 0.45

-2.01 [-3.83, -0.18]

P = 0.03

0.96 [-10.01, 11.92]

P = 0.86

≤ 1 year[22, 24–30]

2.13 [-1.28, 5.54]

P = 0.22

3.74 [0.58, 6.90]

P = 0.02

0.38 [-0.58, 1.34]

P = 0.44

-3.04 [-9.87, 3.79]

P = 0.38

Location of studies

High latitude area [22, 23, 27]

2.99 [-0.84, 6.81]

P = 0.13

3.12 [-0.39, 6.63]

P = 0.08

-0.04 [-1.23, 1.15]

P = 0.95

-2.30 [-10.02, 5.42]

P = 0.56

Middle and low latitude area[24–26, 28–31]

-0.60 [-5.20, 3.99]

P = 0.8

3.38 [-0.76, 7.52]

P = 0.11

-0.24 [-1.47, 0.98]

P = 0.7

-1.43 [-10.21, 7.34]

P = 0.75

Sensitivity analyses

Excluding low quality studies (Jadad < 4) [22, 23]

1.32 [-1.80,4.45]

P = 0.41

3.05 [0.24, 5.86]

P = 0.03

-0.14 [-1.03, 0.75]

P = 0.75

-1.44 [-7.74, 4.86]

P = 0.65