title: Ultra-violet irradiation and 25-hydroxy-vitamin D levels in sick old people.
abstract: Twelve elderly patients in a rehabilitation ward were given a four-week course of ultra-violet irradiation from a Vitalux lamp. They were compared with 12 controls selected from the same ward. Treatment produced a significant elevation in plasma 25-hydroxy-vitamin D (25OHD) by the end of the second week and concentrations continued to rise over the four-week period. Subject showing the greatest response were those starting with the lowest levels of plasma 25OHD. The findings suggest that ultra-violet irradiation is an effective means of treating vitamin D deficiency in old age and that patients with the greatest degree of deficiency show the greatest response.
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002118:Calcium / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005853:Geriatrics; D006748:Hospital Departments; D006801:Humans; D006887:Hydroxycholecalciferols / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D013997:Time Factors; D014467:Ultraviolet Therapy; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000532:radiotherapy*
chemical_list: D006887:Hydroxycholecalciferols; D002118:Calcium