Vitamin D Megadose: Definition, Efficacy in Bone Metabolism, Risk of Falls and Fractures

Currently, approximately more than one billion people around the world are considered to have deficient levels of vitamin D. International consensus recommends vitamin D supplementation to high-risk patients (advanced age, osteoporosis, liver failure, malabsorption syndromes, etc.) and those with levels below 30 ng/mL. There are several vitamin D formulations and dosages available, including megadoses. At the moment, there is no consensus on the definition of megadoses. The purpose of this review is to define what is a megadose and analyze its effectiveness in bone metabolism, risk of fractures and falls.

The administration of doses higher than 100,000 IU of vitamin D is considered a megadose. It is evident that the use of megadoses increases serum concentrations of vitamin D; however, there has been no evidence of a decrease in the risk of falls, vertebral fractures or changes in bone mineral density.