Effect of vitamin D replacement on musculoskeletal parameters in school children: a randomized controlled trial.
BACKGROUND
Despite the high prevalence of hypovitaminosis D in children and adolescents worldwide, the impact of vitamin D deficiency on skeletal health is unclear.


METHODS
One hundred seventy-nine girls, ages 10-17 yr, were randomly assigned to receive weekly oral vitamin D doses of 1,400 IU (equivalent to 200 IU/d) or 14,000 IU (equivalent to 2,000 IU/d) in a double-blind, placebo-controlled, 1-yr protocol. Areal bone mineral density (BMD) and bone mineral content (BMC) at the lumbar spine, hip, forearm, total body, and body composition were measured at baseline and 1 yr. Serum calcium, phosphorus, alkaline phosphatase, and vitamin D metabolites were measured during the study.


RESULTS
In the overall group of girls, lean mass increased significantly in both treatment groups (P < or = 0.05); bone area and total hip BMC increased in the high-dose group (P < 0.02). In premenarcheal girls, lean mass increased significantly in both treatment groups, and there were consistent trends for increments in BMD and/or BMC at several skeletal sites, reaching significance at lumbar spine BMD in the low-dose group and at the trochanter BMC in both treatment groups. There was no significant change in lean mass, BMD, or BMC in postmenarcheal girls.


CONCLUSIONS
Vitamin D replacement had a positive impact on musculoskeletal parameters in girls, especially during the premenarcheal period.
El-Hajj Fuleihan
Ghada
G
Calcium Metabolism and Osteoporosis Program, American University of Beirut-Medical Center, Bliss Street, 113-6044 Beirut, Lebanon. gf01@aub.edu.lb
Nabulsi
Mona
M
Tamim
Hala
H
Maalouf
Joyce
J
Salamoun
Mariana
M
Khalife
Hassan
H
Choucair
Mahmoud
M
Arabi
Asma
A
Vieth
Reinhold
R
D000293:Adolescent; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000097:blood; D001823:Body Composition / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D015519:Bone Density / Q000187:drug effects*; D002118:Calcium / Q000097:blood; D002648:Child; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D018737:Hand Strength / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007861:Lebanon; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D041641:Musculoskeletal Development / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D010758:Phosphorus / Q000097:blood; D012044:Regression Analysis; D016082:Solar System; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000008:administration & dosage*
D014807:Vitamin D; D010758:Phosphorus; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase; D002118:Calcium