Treatment of D deficiency: Oral supplement or vitamin D3 injection?

http://www.vitamindcouncil.org/treatment-of-d-deficiency-oral-supplement-or-vitamin-d3-injection/

6 January 2013

Researchers recently conducted arandomized controlled trialassessing the effectiveness and practicality of oral vitamin D supplements compared to intramuscular vitamin D supplement injections in the treatment of vitamin D deficiency.

Researchers in Iran randomized 92 patients with vitamin D deficiency (< 30 ng/ml) to receive 300,000 IU vitamin D3, either intramuscularly as a single injection or orally in six divided doses over a 3 month period (about the equivalent to 3,300 IU/day). Vitamin D blood levels were measured at baseline, three, and six months.

The researchers found that both treatment regimens significantly increased vitamin D blood levels. Vitamin D status at 3 months was significantly higher in oral than in the injection group, with levels at 36 and 23.5 ng/ml respectively (p=0.03). At 6 months, levels were similar (20.8 and 24.8 ng/ml respectively).

The researchers conclude that both regimens are safe, effective, and practical, “Although we revealed superiority of oral route, at least at early short time, the way of treatment may depend on the patient's choice, compliance and availability of various forms of the drug in any regions.”

Source

Zabihiyeganeh M, Jahed A, Nojomi M. Treatment of hypovitaminosis D with pharmacologic doses of cholecalciferol, oral vs intramuscular; an open labeled RCT. Clinical Endocrinology. January 2013.

Page last edited: 16 January 2013