Vitamin D2 dose required to rapidly increase 25OHD levels in osteoporotic women

Eur J Clin Nutr. 2006 May;60(5):681-7. doi: 10.1038/sj.ejcn.1602369.

Abstract

Objective: Assessment of the effectiveness and safety of high daily 125 microg (5,000 IU) or 250 microg (10,000IU) doses of vitamin D(2) during 3 months, in rapidly obtaining adequate 25 hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) levels.

Design: Longitudinal study.

Subjects: Postmenopausal osteopenic/osteoporotic women (n = 38) were studied during winter and spring. Median age (25-75th percentile) was 61.5 (57.00-66.25) years, and mean bone mineral density (BMD) was 0.902 (0.800-1.042)g/cm(2). Subjects were randomly divided into three groups: control group (n=13): no vitamin D(2), 125 mug/day (n=13) and 250 microg/day (n=12) of vitamin D(2) groups, all receiving 500 mg calcium/day. Serum calcium, phosphate, bone alkaline phosphatase (BAP), C-telopeptide (CTX), 25OHD, mid-molecule parathyroid hormone (mmPTH), daily urinary calcium and creatinine excretion were determined at baseline and monthly.

Results: For all subjects (n=38), the median baseline 25 hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) level was 36.25 (27.5-48.12) nmol/l. After 3 months, 8% of the patients in the control group, 50% in the 125 microg/day group and 75% in the 250 microg/day group had 25OHD values above 85 nmol/l (34 ng/ml). Considering both vitamin D(2) groups together, mmPTH and BAP levels diminished significantly after 3 months (P<0.02), unlike those of CTX. Serum calcium remained within normal range during the follow-up.

Conclusions: The oral dose of vitamin D(2) required to rapidly achieve adequate levels of 25OHD is seemingly much higher than the usual recommended vitamin D(3) dose (20 mug/day). During 3 months, 250 microg/day of vitamin D(2) most effectively raised 25OHD levels to 85 nmol/l in 75% of the postmenopausal osteopenic/osteoporotic women treated.

Publication types

  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Alkaline Phosphatase / metabolism
  • Bone Density / drug effects
  • Bone Diseases, Metabolic / blood
  • Bone Diseases, Metabolic / drug therapy
  • Calcium / blood
  • Calcium / urine
  • Collagen Type I / blood
  • Creatinine / urine
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Ergocalciferols / pharmacology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Longitudinal Studies
  • Middle Aged
  • Nutritional Requirements*
  • Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal / blood
  • Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal / drug therapy*
  • Parathyroid Hormone / blood
  • Peptides / blood
  • Phosphates / blood
  • Safety
  • Seasons
  • Vitamin D / analogs & derivatives*
  • Vitamin D / pharmacokinetics
  • Vitamin D Deficiency / drug therapy*

Substances

  • Collagen Type I
  • Ergocalciferols
  • Parathyroid Hormone
  • Peptides
  • Phosphates
  • collagen type I trimeric cross-linked peptide
  • Vitamin D
  • 25-hydroxyvitamin D
  • Creatinine
  • Alkaline Phosphatase
  • Calcium