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Observational Study
. 2025 Mar 15;17(6):1035.
doi: 10.3390/nu17061035.

Efficacy of Oral Supplementation with Cholecalciferol Versus Calcifediol in Patients with Hypovitaminosis D After Stroke

Stefania Canneva  1 , Anna De Giovanni  1   2 , Felicita Pagella  1   2 , Lucia Pellegrino  1   2 , Francesco Iencinella  1   2 , Sara Maestrini  1   2 , Marta Ponzano  3 , Carlo Trompetto  1   2 , Laura Mori  1   2
Affiliations
Observational Study

Efficacy of Oral Supplementation with Cholecalciferol Versus Calcifediol in Patients with Hypovitaminosis D After Stroke

Stefania Canneva et al. Nutrients. .

Abstract

Background/objectives: Cholecalciferol and Calcifediol are commonly used for oral supplementation in patients with vitamin D deficiency. Several studies have compared these two molecules; however, the studied population has only included healthy postmenopausal women so far. This retrospective observational study aims to evaluate which molecule is more effective and faster in achieving serum 25(oh)D levels within the normal range in post-stroke patients during the subacute phase. Secondary aims include assessing potential differences in functional outcomes and investigating the possible correlation between the degree of hypovitaminosis D and stroke severity.

Methods: We observed 85 in-patients who received either Cholecalciferol or Calcifediol during intensive rehabilitation. All subjects underwent functional evaluations, blood tests, and a bone densitometry (DEXA) scan.

Results: Four months after starting supplementation, subjects receiving calcifediol achieved significantly higher 25(oh)D levels (p < 0.001) compared to those receiving cholecalciferol. No significant between-group differences were observed in secondary outcomes. Another key finding is that no statistically significant correlation was found between serum of 25(oh)D levels and stroke severity.

Conclusions: These results highlight the importance of further investigating bone metabolism in post-stroke patients, though findings should be confirmed in larger studies.

Keywords: calcifediol 3; cholecalciferol 2; osteoporosis 6; rehabilitation 5; stroke 4; vitamin D deficiency 1.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Changes in 25(oh)D: (A) changes in all subjects; (B) changes in subjects treated with cholecalciferol or calcifediol. 25(oh)D: 25OH vitamin D; Chol: cholecalciferol; Cal: calcifediol.
Figure 2
Figure 2
(A) Changes in SPPB or all subjects; (B) changes in SF12-PCS in all subjects. SPPB: Short Physical Performance Battery; SF12: short form 12; PCS: physical composite score.
Figure 3
Figure 3
(A) Correlation between NIHSS and 25(oh)D at T0; (B) correlation between NIHSS and BIM at T0. NIHSS: National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale; 25(oh)D: 25Oh vitamin D; BIM: Modified Barthel Index.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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