Monthly vitamin D supplement safe and effective

A single high dose of vitamin D given every four weeks is as safe as smaller daily or weekly doses, and is as effective in achieving adequate circulating levels of the vitamin, according to a study conducted in Israel.

To prevent fractures in older patients, the level of the active metabolite of vitamin D -- that is, 25-hydroxyvitamin D -- should be higher than 30 nanograms per milliliter, Dr. Sophia Ish-Shalom and colleagues explain in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism.

While monthly dosing could make it easier for people to stick to regular vitamin D supplementation, the researchers were concerned that a large dose might lead to a spike in calcium levels in the blood -- which could cause problems.

To check, the team conducted a clinical trial with 48 women, 81 years of age on average, who had undergone surgery to repair a hip fracture, to compare three dosing regimens of vitamin D supplementation: 1,500 International Units once daily, 10,500 IU once weekly, or 45,000 IU every 28 days.

After two months, blood levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D were similar at 33.2, 29.2, and 37.1 nanograms per milliliter, respectively.

A single instance of excessive blood levels of calcium occurred, in a patient assigned to the daily supplement.

Ish-Shalom, at Rambam Medical Center in Haifa, Israel, and associates conclude that "the choice of dose frequency can be based on whichever approach will optimize an individual's adherence" to regular vitamin D supplementation.

I had the same dosage, only I had to take it a little longer......You're Welcome Lynn,

Very timely. My RA doc wrote out a script for vit d. I was too busy yakking about health care politics and didn't notice the dose until I left. 50,000! But after reading this post, I see now this can be a typical starting dose. Question though, my calcium citrate has vit d, should I be concerned about that? Guess I should focus during my doc appts on me rather than current events, oh well. Thanks for the info.

If you have questions on your regular vitamins, ask your dr. I can only relay that my endo told me to continue my 800mg regular multi vitamin dose... and after my three doses of 50,000 upped me to almost twice that daily.

Thanks Babs, good suggestion, it's impossible to get him on the phone, but I'll send him a fax! I guess I should have paid more attention during my appt, but I just assumed the dose was gonna be a lower amount. Take care.

Are the vitamin D supplements everyone is talking about different from the vitamin D that's in my Calcium vitamins? I take 800 IU in those. What the heck is IU anyway? My RD told me I needed it because I'm on prednisone. I did have a slightly elevated calcium level last blood test I have results for.

My GP just did bloodwork and she said she is specifically testing me for vitamin D but because I'm tan she says my levels are probably fine. (?) I haven't been sunning since the weather changed.

Also had blood work done for RD and see him on Saturday. He was not concerned with the calcium elevation last time- said we'll watch it. Possibly he'll cut me down from 1200 mgs of it daily.

Monthly vitamin D supplement safe and effective | Arthritis Information