Vitamin D prophylaxis in children with a single dose of 150000 IU of vitamin D.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To determine the efficacy of a single oral dose of 150,000 IU of vitamin D2 at the beginning of autumn for preventing winter vitamin D deficiency in children in Ushuaia (55 degrees S).

DESIGN:

The study was prospective.

SUBJECTS:

79 children clinically healthy with 8.6 +/- 1.4 y of age (X +/- s.d.).

INTERVENTIONS:

Fasting serum venous samples and 2 h urine samples were obtained immediately before and 6 w and 5 mon after the vitamin D dose. Parents informed consent was obtained previous to the study. In a subgroup of 30 children serum levels of calcium (sCa), phosphorus (sP), total alkaline phosphatase (TAP), 25 hydroxyvitamin D (25 OHD), parathyroid hormone (PTH) and the urine calcium/creatinine ratio in a 2 h urine sample (UCa/UCreat) were measured. In the whole group sCa and the ratio uCa/ucreat were measured.

RESULTS:

After 150,000 IU of vitamin D2 administration, serum 25 OHD levels at the end of winter (17.0 +/- 9.4 ng/ml) were similar to those at the beginning of autumn (18.7 +/- 10.7 ng/ml), but significantly higher from those obtained in a previous study without vitamin D (9.8 +/- 3.8 ng/ml, P < 0.001). PTH levels were higher at the end of winter (P < 0.02), but this augmentation was lower than the increment observed without vitamin D. Plasma calcium levels and the urine calcium/creatinine ratio were lower at 5 months after vitamin D2 dose (P < 0.02 and P < 0.05 respectively). In the total group the serum calcium was lower after the fifth month (P < 0.05). The Uca/Ucreat ratio was lower at 6 w and 5 mon (P < 0.05 and P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION:

A single dose of 150,000 IU of vitamin D maintained appropriate levels of 25 OHD without inducing hypercalcemia nor hypercalciuria, but a winter increment of PTH (smaller than in the group without vitamin D) was not inhibited.

• Authors: B Oliveri, H Cassinelli, C Mautalen, M Ayala
• Journal: European journal of clinical nutrition (Eur J Clin Nutr) Vol. 50 Issue 12 Pg. 807-10 (Dec 1996) ISSN: 0954-3007 [Print] England
• PMID: 8968701 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Ergocalciferols
• Parathyroid Hormone
• Phosphorus
• Creatinine
• Alkaline Phosphatase
• Calcifediol
• Calcium

Topics

• Alkaline Phosphatase (blood)
• Argentina
• Calcifediol (blood)
• Calcium (blood, urine)
• Child
• Child, Preschool
• Creatinine (urine)
• Ergocalciferols (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
• Humans
• Parathyroid Hormone (blood)
• Phosphorus (blood)
• Prospective Studies
• Seasons
• Vitamin D Deficiency (prevention & control)