Primary care management of vitamin D deficiency and liver disease.
OBJECTIVE
Vitamin D deficiency is one of the most common medical conditions. Up to 96% of patients with liver disease have this deficiency. The purpose of this manuscript is to educate primary care nurse practitioners (NPs) of vitamin D deficiency and its proper management in patients with liver disease.


METHODS
Information was compiled by reviewing the scientific literature on cirrhosis, liver disease, and vitamin D deficiency (CINAHL, MEDLINE, PubMed search engines).


CONCLUSIONS
While the usual supplement dose for vitamin D deficiency is 1000 international units (vitamin D3 ) daily, vitamin D2 supplementation at doses of 50,000 international units can be given for correction. Primary care NPs can assist patients with liver disease with optimal nutrition and vitamin supplementation.


CONCLUSIONS
Primary care NPs should be aware of vitamin D deficiency in patients with liver disease. Vitamin D supplementation may be required in high doses in those patients with a moderate to severe deficiency. Repeat 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels should be checked after supplementation is completed and yearly thereafter.
Department of Transplant, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, Florida.
Amanda
A
Chaney
D019587:Dietary Supplements; D006801:Humans; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000150:complications*; D009722:Nurse Practitioners; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D057184:Practice Patterns, Nurses'; D064167:Recommended Dietary Allowances; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000097:blood; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000451:nursing / Q000517:prevention & control*
D014807:Vitamin D; C104450:25-hydroxyvitamin D
25-Hydroxyvitamin D; chronic liver disease; liver; nurse practitioners; vitamin D