[Plasma 25-hydroxycholecalciferol after daily vitamin D administration in comparison with massive single-dose...

The effect of daily administration of 1200 IU vitamin D3 was compared with the response to a single oral dose of 200,000 IU in 21 young infants by determination of the plasma 25-OHCC levels. After about one week the mean value recorded in group 1 was 27 +/- 13 ng/ml; the corresponding value in group 2 was 127 +/- 78.4 ng/ml. At the second control examination about one month subsequently, the mean values were 61 +/- 26.2 ng/ml and 104 +/- 69.0 ng/ml respectively. The wide range of values found in the single-dose group clearly demonstrates the advantage of daily vitamin D administration for routine prophylaxis against rickets in infancy.