Monthly versus daily administration of vitamin D3 in children: a retrospective propensity score-matched study

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Endocrinology
• Nutritional Science
• Public Health

Background:

• Vitamin D deficiency is a global health concern in children.
• Optimal dosing strategies for vitamin D repletion are crucial for pediatric health.
• Precocious puberty management often requires careful monitoring of vitamin D status.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the efficacy and safety of monthly versus daily vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) administration in children with vitamin D deficiency.
• To evaluate serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] levels and treatment outcomes between the two dosing regimens.
• To assess the potential for enhanced compliance with a monthly dosing schedule.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective study matched 192 vitamin D-deficient children with precocious puberty using propensity scores.
• Children received either 1,000 IU of vitamin D3 daily or 25,000 IU every 4 weeks.
• Key matching factors included age, sex, BMI Z-scores, season of blood collection, and baseline serum 25(OH)D.

Main Results:

• The monthly vitamin D3 group showed a significantly greater increase in serum 25(OH)D concentrations compared to the daily group (10.9 vs. 8.2 ng/mL).
• A higher proportion of children in the monthly group achieved serum 25(OH)D levels > 20 ng/mL (78.1% vs. 58.3%).
• No cases of hypercalcemia were reported in either treatment group, indicating a favorable safety profile for both regimens.

Conclusions:

• Monthly vitamin D3 administration is an effective and safe alternative for correcting hypovitaminosis D in pediatric populations.
• The improved efficacy may be linked to enhanced patient compliance with less frequent dosing.
• This strategy holds promise for improving vitamin D status in children, particularly those with chronic conditions requiring regular medication.