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


METHODS
Longitudinal study.


METHODS
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.
Mastaglia
S R
SR
Sección Osteopatías Médicas, Hospital de Clínicas, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina. osteologia@ciudad.com.ar
Mautalen
C A
CA
Parisi
M S
MS
Oliveri
B
B
D000368:Aged; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000378:metabolism; D015519:Bone Density / Q000187:drug effects; D001851:Bone Diseases, Metabolic / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy; D002118:Calcium / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine; D024042:Collagen Type I / Q000097:blood; D003404:Creatinine / Q000652:urine; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004872:Ergocalciferols / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008875:Middle Aged; D009751:Nutritional Requirements; D015663:Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010281:Parathyroid Hormone / Q000097:blood; D010455:Peptides / Q000097:blood; D010710:Phosphates / Q000097:blood; D012449:Safety; D012621:Seasons; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000188:drug therapy*
D024042:Collagen Type I; D004872:Ergocalciferols; D010281:Parathyroid Hormone; D010455:Peptides; D010710:Phosphates; C052929:collagen type I trimeric cross-linked peptide; D014807:Vitamin D; C104450:25-hydroxyvitamin D; D003404:Creatinine; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase; D002118:Calcium