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The effect of a single dose versus a daily dose of cholecalciferol on the serum 25-hydroxycholecalciferol and parathyroid hormone levels in the elderly with secondary hyperparathyroidism living in a low-income housing unit

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Abstract

We designed a randomized, double-blind, controlled clinical trial to compare the effect of two regimens for administering cholecalciferol on the serum 25-hydroxycholecalciferol [25(OH)D] levels and in the reversion of secondary hyperparathyroidism in the elderly living in a low-income housing unit in the city of Porto Alegre, southern Brazil. We studied 28 individuals ranging in age from 65 to 102 years with serum parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels greater than 48 pg/ml and normal or reduced serum calcium levels. Subjects were randomized to receive oral cholecalciferol, as a single dose of 300 000 IU (group 1) or 800 IU (group 2) daily for 9 months. Both groups received 1250 mg calcium carbonate per day. Serum 25(OH)D and PTH levels were measured at baseline and after 1, 2, 3, 6, and 9 months. Serum 25(OH)D levels in group 1 were significantly higher than in group 2 during the study (P < 0.001). After 1 (P < 0.001) and 2 (P < 0.04) months of treatment, mean serum 25(OH)D levels were higher in group 1. The number of subjects who reached serum 25(OH)D levels ≥20 ng/dl was higher in group 1, after the first (P < 0.001) and third (P = 0.008) months. In the short term, a single 300 000 IU oral dose of vitamin D3 was more effective than 800 IU per day to increase serum 25(OH)D levels in elderly persons, living in a low-income housing unit, who were taking 500 mg elementary calcium supplement per day.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Furlanetto Serviço de Emergência, Internal Medicine Division, Hospital de Clínicas in Porto Alegre (HCPA), Rua Ramiro Barcelos 2350, Porto Alegre, Brazil

    Melissa O. Premaor & Tania W. Furlanetto

  2. Clinical Pathology Division, HCPA, Porto Alegre, Brazil

    Rosana Scalco

  3. Padre Cacique Asylum, Porto Alegre, Brazil

    Marília J. S. da Silva

  4. Froehlich Primary Standards Laboratory, Pharmacy School, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil

    Pedro E. Froehlich

Authors
  1. Melissa O. Premaor
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  2. Rosana Scalco
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  3. Marília J. S. da Silva
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  4. Pedro E. Froehlich
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  5. Tania W. Furlanetto
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Correspondence to Melissa O. Premaor.

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Premaor, M.O., Scalco, R., da Silva, M.J.S. et al. The effect of a single dose versus a daily dose of cholecalciferol on the serum 25-hydroxycholecalciferol and parathyroid hormone levels in the elderly with secondary hyperparathyroidism living in a low-income housing unit. J Bone Miner Metab 26, 603–608 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00774-008-0858-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00774-008-0858-0

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