title: The effect of a single dose versus a daily dose of cholecalciferol on the serum 25-hydroxycholecalciferol and parathyroid hormone levels in the elderly with secondary hyperparathyroidism living in a low-income housing unit.
abstract: We designed a randomized, double-blind, controlled clinical trial to compare the effect of two regimens for administering cholecalciferol on the serum 25-hydroxycholecalciferol [25(OH)D] levels and in the reversion of secondary hyperparathyroidism in the elderly living in a low-income housing unit in the city of Porto Alegre, southern Brazil. We studied 28 individuals ranging in age from 65 to 102 years with serum parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels greater than 48 pg/ml and normal or reduced serum calcium levels. Subjects were randomized to receive oral cholecalciferol, as a single dose of 300 000 IU (group 1) or 800 IU (group 2) daily for 9 months. Both groups received 1250 mg calcium carbonate per day. Serum 25(OH)D and PTH levels were measured at baseline and after 1, 2, 3, 6, and 9 months. Serum 25(OH)D levels in group 1 were significantly higher than in group 2 during the study (P < 0.001). After 1 (P < 0.001) and 2 (P < 0.04) months of treatment, mean serum 25(OH)D levels were higher in group 1. The number of subjects who reached serum 25(OH)D levels >/=20 ng/dl was higher in group 1, after the first (P < 0.001) and third (P = 0.008) months. In the short term, a single 300 000 IU oral dose of vitamin D(3) was more effective than 800 IU per day to increase serum 25(OH)D levels in elderly persons, living in a low-income housing unit, who were taking 500 mg elementary calcium supplement per day.
authors.affiliation: Furlanetto Serviço de Emergência, Internal Medicine Division, Hospital de Clínicas in Porto Alegre (HCPA), Rua Ramiro Barcelos 2350, Porto Alegre, Brazil. mopremaor@bol.com.br
authors.forename: Melissa O
authors.initials: MO
authors.lastname: Premaor
authors.forename: Rosana
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Scalco
authors.forename: Marília J S
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: da Silva
authors.forename: Pedro E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Froehlich
authors.forename: Tania W
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Furlanetto
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001938:Brazil; D002112:Calcifediol / Q000097:blood*; D002136:Calcium, Dietary; D002762:Cholecalciferol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D006801:Humans; D006962:Hyperparathyroidism, Secondary / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy; D010281:Parathyroid Hormone / Q000097:blood*; D011203:Poverty; D011638:Public Housing; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000008:administration & dosage; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency
chemical_list: D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents; D002136:Calcium, Dietary; D010281:Parathyroid Hormone; D014807:Vitamin D; D002762:Cholecalciferol; D002112:Calcifediol