Single-monthly-dose vitamin D supplementation in elderly patients

Area of Science:

• Endocrinology
• Nutritional Science
• Geriatrics

Background:

• Vitamin D is crucial for calcium homeostasis and bone health, particularly in postmenopausal women.
• Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and calcium supplementation are common in this demographic.
• Assessing the safety and efficacy of different vitamin D dosing regimens is important for optimizing patient outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate serum calcidiol and calcitriol levels in elderly individuals receiving monthly high-dose vitamin D supplementation.
• To determine the safety and adequacy of blood levels achieved with a monthly vitamin D regimen in postmenopausal women on HRT.

Main Methods:

• Plasma calcidiol and calcitriol levels were measured in 2 men and 21 postmenopausal women.
• Participants received oral calcium citrate and 50,000 IU (1.25 mg) of vitamin D monthly.
• Measurements were taken at various time points, comparing short-term (1-6 months) and long-term (several years) users.

Main Results:

• Long-term users consistently showed calcidiol levels above the normal range (>52 ng/mL).
• Calcitriol levels remained within the normal range (8-52 pg/mL) in most samples for both short-term and long-term users.
• Elevated calcidiol levels in long-term users were below thresholds associated with hypercalciuria or hypercalcemia.

Conclusions:

• A once-monthly 50,000 IU vitamin D dose is safe and effective in maintaining normal calcitriol levels in elderly women on HRT and calcium.
• Sustained monthly vitamin D supplementation can lead to elevated calcidiol levels but does not appear to pose a risk of hypercalcemia or hypercalciuria.
• This regimen supports adequate vitamin D status without adverse effects on calcium metabolism in the studied population.