title: An effective oral vitamin D replacement therapy in persons with spinal cord injury.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Vitamin D deficiency is prevalent in chronic spinal cord injury (SCI). A 3-month course of oral vitamin D(3) to 'normalize' serum vitamin D levels was investigated.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective drug-intervention study.
  
  
  METHODS
  VA Medical Center; private rehabilitation facility.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seven individuals with chronic SCI and vitamin D deficiency completed 3 months of oral vitamin D(3) (i.e. cholecalciferol) supplementation. At screening, baseline, and months 1 and 3, blood was collected for serum calcium, 25 hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D], intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH), and N-telopeptide (NTx); 24-hour urine for calcium, creatinine, and NTx was performed. Oral vitamin D(3) (2000 IU daily) and elemental calcium (1.3 g daily) were prescribed for 90 days. The results are expressed as mean ± standard deviation (SD). Analysis of variance with a Fisher's post-hoc analysis was performed to test for differences between study visits. Subjects were classified as deficient (<20 ng/ml), relatively deficient (20-30 ng/ml), or not deficient (>30 ng/ml) in 25(OH)D.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Serum 25(OH)D levels were greater at months 1 and 3 than at baseline (26 ± 6 and 48 ± 17 vs. 14 ± 2 ng/ml; P = 0.005). Six of seven subjects were no longer deficient [25(OH)D >30 ng/ml] by month 3. Serum iPTH levels were significantly decreased at month 1 and month 3; serum NTx levels were significantly lower at month 3 than at baseline. Serum and urinary calcium levels remained within the normal range.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A daily prescription of 2000 IU of oral vitamin D(3) for 3 months safely raised serum 25(OH)D levels into the normal range in persons with chronic SCI on calcium supplementation.
authors: Department of Veterans Affairs, James J. Peters VA Medical Center, Bronx, NY, USA. william.bauman@va.gov
authors: William A
authors: WA
authors: Bauman
authors: Racine R
authors: RR
authors: Emmons
authors: Christopher M
authors: CM
authors: Cirnigliaro
authors: Steven C
authors: SC
authors: Kirshblum
authors: Ann M
authors: AM
authors: Spungen
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002118:Calcium / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine; D024042:Collagen Type I / Q000652:urine; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010281:Parathyroid Hormone / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine; D010455:Peptides / Q000652:urine; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000652:urine; D013997:Time Factors; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000652:urine
chemical_list: D024042:Collagen Type I; D010281:Parathyroid Hormone; D010455:Peptides; C052929:collagen type I trimeric cross-linked peptide; D014807:Vitamin D; C104450:25-hydroxyvitamin D; D002118:Calcium