title: Vitamin D deficiency: a simple algorithm employing weekly administration of 50,000 IU of vitamin D.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Vitamin D deficiency affects parathyroid hormone levels and is endemic in the American population due to diet and lifestyle. The aim of this study was to evaluate a treatment algorithm using weekly doses of 50,000 IU of Vitamin D2 for thyroid and parathyroid surgery patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective, non-randomized.
  
  
  METHODS
  University health sciences center.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients at a thyroid center being treated for benign and malignant thyroid diseases or parathyroid disease. Subjects with total vitamin D levels less than 30 ng/dl were prospectively treated with weekly doses of 50,000 IU of vitamin D2 (D2) for durations dependent upon initial vitamin D (25-hydroxyvitamin D) levels. Vitamin D levels were measured after the treatment intervals and change in levels from baseline was determined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Subjects receiving 8 weeks of therapy demonstrated an average increase in vitamin D level of 13.4 ng/ml, 10 weeks of therapy showed an increase of 16.35 ng/ml, and 12 weeks showed an average increase of 21.6 ng/ml. The treatment groups had success rates of 82%, 75%, and 71% after 8, 10, and 12 weeks of therapy respectively. When only compliant patients were evaluated (defined as greater than 3-ng/ml increase after therapy), the success rates after 8, 10, and 12 weeks increased to 95%, 79%, and 71% respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A simple algorithm using 50,000 IU of vitamin D2 corrects its deficiency in the majority of subjects treated. This is a simple method of treatment for thyroid and parathyroid patients who are vitamin D deficient. Thyroid and parathyroid conditions are frequently treated by otolaryngologists and vitamin D deficiency can complicate their diagnosis and/or management.
authors.affiliation: Department of Geriatrics, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Middleton
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA; UAMS Thyroid Center, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA. Electronic address: bstack@uams.edu.
authors.forename: Brendan C
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Stack
authors.affiliation: Department of Geriatrics, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA.
authors.forename: Ann T
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Riggs
authors.affiliation: Department of Geriatrics, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA; UAMS Thyroid Center, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA.
authors.forename: Donald L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Bodenner
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000465:Algorithms; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010281:Parathyroid Hormone / Q000097:blood; D010349:Patient Compliance; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D014815:Vitamins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics
chemical_list: D010281:Parathyroid Hormone; D014815:Vitamins; D014807:Vitamin D; C104450:25-hydroxyvitamin D