Vitamin D deficiency: a simple algorithm employing weekly administration of 50,000 IU of vitamin D

Abstract

Objective: Vitamin D deficiency affects parathyroid hormone levels and is endemic in the American population due to diet and lifestyle. The aim of this study was to evaluate a treatment algorithm using weekly doses of 50,000 IU of Vitamin D2 for thyroid and parathyroid surgery patients.

Study design: Prospective, non-randomized.

Setting: University health sciences center.

Subjects and methods: Patients at a thyroid center being treated for benign and malignant thyroid diseases or parathyroid disease. Subjects with total vitamin D levels less than 30 ng/dl were prospectively treated with weekly doses of 50,000 IU of vitamin D2 (D2) for durations dependent upon initial vitamin D (25-hydroxyvitamin D) levels. Vitamin D levels were measured after the treatment intervals and change in levels from baseline was determined.

Results: Subjects receiving 8 weeks of therapy demonstrated an average increase in vitamin D level of 13.4 ng/ml, 10 weeks of therapy showed an increase of 16.35 ng/ml, and 12 weeks showed an average increase of 21.6 ng/ml. The treatment groups had success rates of 82%, 75%, and 71% after 8, 10, and 12 weeks of therapy respectively. When only compliant patients were evaluated (defined as greater than 3-ng/ml increase after therapy), the success rates after 8, 10, and 12 weeks increased to 95%, 79%, and 71% respectively.

Conclusions: A simple algorithm using 50,000 IU of vitamin D2 corrects its deficiency in the majority of subjects treated. This is a simple method of treatment for thyroid and parathyroid patients who are vitamin D deficient. Thyroid and parathyroid conditions are frequently treated by otolaryngologists and vitamin D deficiency can complicate their diagnosis and/or management.