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Single Oral High‐Dose Vitamin D 3 Prophylaxis in the Elderly
Author(s) -
Weisman Yosef,
Schen Refael J.,
Eisenberg Zipora,
Amarilio Ninetta,
Graff Eran,
EdelsteinSinger Maia,
Goldray David,
Harell Arie
Publication year - 1986
Publication title -
journal of the american geriatrics society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.992
H-Index - 232
eISSN - 1532-5415
pISSN - 0002-8614
DOI - 10.1111/j.1532-5415.1986.tb04243.x
Subject(s) - medicine , vitamin d and neurology , hypovitaminosis , vitamin , oral dose , osteopenia , vitamin d deficiency , gastroenterology , oral administration , osteoporosis , bone mineral
A poor vitamin D status is common in the elderly during the winter months. Because it is possible that hypovitaminosis D may be a cause of senile osteopenia, a simple method of prophylaxis would be useful. The single, oral, high‐dose method was tested in two old‐age homes, and the efficacy of vitamin D 3 was compared with that of 25‐hydroxyvitamin D 3 (25‐OHD 3 ). The trials showed that 25‐OHD 3 caused a higher peak value in the serum 25‐OHD levels in the second week than did vitamin D 3 . However, follow‐up after four to five months showed that in those patients who received a single, oral dose of 25‐OHD 3 , the serum 25‐OHD levels had returned to the baseline low values, whereas in those patients who had had oral vitamin D 3 , the serum 25‐OHD levels still remained significantly raised compared with the baseline values and were within normal limits, It is concluded that the single, oral, high‐dose method using vitamin D 3 is a safe and simple method of prophylaxis and could be used easily in large populations of elderly persons. J Am Geriatr Soc 34:515–518, 1986