Effects of Short-term High-dose Vitamin D Supplementation on Mineral Homeostasis in Healthy Young Adults
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Published on: December 9, 2015
Markéta Králová1, Pavlína Černá1, Hedvika Mikolášová1,2
1Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine in Pilsen, Charles University, Pilsen, Czech Republic.
Background/Aim:
High-dose vitamin D supplementation is increasingly used to achieve extraskeletal effects, but its safety regarding mineral metabolism remains under discussion. This study assessed the effects of vitamin D on serum calcium, magnesium, and parathyroid hormone (PTH) concentrations in young healthy individuals.
Materials And Methods:
Sixty-five healthy volunteers received cholecalciferol drops in doses ranging from 1,000 to 8,000 IU/day across two winter seasons. Serum concentrations of 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D], calcium, magnesium, and PTH were measured at defined intervals.
Results:
Supplementation resulted in a dose-dependent increase in serum 25(OH)D, reaching a maximum of 208.5 nmol/l. Despite the high intake, all measured parameters remained within physiological ranges. A significant inverse association between 25(OH)D and PTH levels confirmed physiological suppression of PTH at higher vitamin D concentrations, though all values stayed within reference limits.
Conclusion:
The absence of clinically relevant disturbances in calcium, magnesium, or PTH levels supports the safety of high-dose vitamin D supplementation when appropriately monitored in young healthy adults, even at the upper limits of therapeutic dosing. These findings highlight the need for further research to delineate the long-term effects of high-dose vitamin D supplementation on mineral metabolism across diverse patient populations.
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