Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2017 Jan-Feb;21(1):131-136.
doi: 10.4103/2230-8210.196007.

Effect of oral versus intramuscular Vitamin D replacement in apparently healthy adults with Vitamin D deficiency

Affiliations

Effect of oral versus intramuscular Vitamin D replacement in apparently healthy adults with Vitamin D deficiency

Nitin Gupta et al. Indian J Endocrinol Metab. 2017 Jan-Feb.

Abstract

Context: A number of controversies exist regarding appropriate treatment strategy for Vitamin D deficiency.

Aims: The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of equivalent doses of oral cholecalciferol (60,000 IU weekly for 5 weeks) versus intramuscular (IM) cholecalciferol (300,000 IU) in correcting Vitamin D deficiency in apparently healthy volunteers working in a hospital.

Settings and design: Prospective randomized open-label single institution study.

Subjects and methods: This study enrolled 40 apparently healthy adults with Vitamin D deficiency into 2 arms. The oral cholecalciferol group (n = 20) received oral cholecalciferol 60,000 IU weekly for 5 weeks while the IM cholecalciferol group (n = 20) received a single injection of cholecalciferol 300,000 IU. The main outcome measure was serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) levels at baseline, 6 and 12 weeks after the intervention.

Statistical analysis used: Differences in serum 25OHD and other biochemical parameters at baseline and follow-up were analyzed using general linear model.

Results: Mean 25OHD level at baseline was 5.99 ± 1.07 ng/mL and 7.40 ± 1.13 ng/mL (P = 0.332) in the oral cholecalciferol and IM cholecalciferol group, respectively. In the oral cholecalciferol group, serum 25OHD level was 20.20 ± 1.65 ng/mL at 6 weeks and 16.66 ± 1.36 ng/mL at 12 weeks. The corresponding serum 25OHD levels in the IM cholecalciferol group were 20.74 ± 1.81 ng/mL and 25.46 ± 1.37 ng/mL at 6 and 12 weeks, respectively. At 12 weeks, the mean 25OHD levels in IM cholecalciferol group was higher as compared to the oral cholecalciferol group (25.46 ± 1.37 vs. 16.66 ± 1.36 ng/mL; P < 0.001).

Conclusions: Both oral and IM routes are effective for the treatment of Vitamin D deficiency. 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels in the IM cholecalciferol group showed a sustained increase from baseline.

Keywords: Intramuscular cholecalciferol; Vitamin D deficiency; Vitamin D replacement; oral cholecalciferol.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

There are no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Serum calcium values at baseline and during follow-up in oral cholecalciferol and intramuscular cholecalciferol group
Figure 2
Figure 2
25-hydroxyvitamin D values at baseline and during follow-up in oral cholecalciferol and intramuscular cholecalciferol group
Figure 3
Figure 3
Intact parathyroid hormone levels at baseline and during follow-up in oral cholecalciferol and intramuscular cholecalciferol group

Similar articles

Cited by

References

    1. Mithal A, Wahl DA, Bonjour JP, Burckhardt P, Dawson-Hughes B, Eisman JA, et al. Global Vitamin D status and determinants of hypovitaminosis D. Osteoporos Int. 2009;20:1807–20. - PubMed
    1. Arya V, Bhambri R, Godbole MM, Mithal A. Vitamin D status and its relationship with bone mineral density in healthy Asian Indians. Osteoporos Int. 2004;15:56–61. - PubMed
    1. Sachan A, Gupta R, Das V, Agarwal A, Awasthi PK, Bhatia V. High prevalence of Vitamin D deficiency among pregnant women and their newborns in Northern India. Am J Clin Nutr. 2005;81:1060–4. - PubMed
    1. Marwaha RK, Tandon N, Reddy DR, Aggarwal R, Singh R, Sawhney RC, et al. Vitamin D and bone mineral density status of healthy schoolchildren in Northern India. Am J Clin Nutr. 2005;82:477–82. - PubMed
    1. Harinarayan CV. Prevalence of Vitamin D insufficiency in postmenopausal South Indian women. Osteoporos Int. 2005;16:397–402. - PubMed