Large doses of vitamin D in light of current guidelines regarding and recommendations Review article
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Published:
Mar 31, 2025
Keywords:
large doses, vitamin D
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Abstract
Vitamin D plays a key role in the body, influencing various physiological processes. Its main function is to regulate calcium and phosphate metabolism and to influence the health of the musculoskeletal system and to prevent bone diseases such as rickets in children and osteomalacia in adults. Recent studies have also shown that vitamin D can also exert pleiotropic effects, and its deficiency has been demonstrated in a great many diseases. Although there are still gaps in knowledge and controversy regarding the potential extraskeletal effects of vitamin D, it is widely accepted that the high incidence of vitamin D deficiency worldwide is worrying and requires preventive measures. In recent years, less frequent vitamin D dosing regimens (once a week, every 2 weeks and once a month) have also been available and promoted, which are a safe and willingly preferred alternative to daily therapy by some patients. This article summarizes the current recommendations and guidelines regarding vitamin D supplementation and treatment, especially in higher and less frequent doses.
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Michalska-Kasiczak, M., Stuss, M., & Sewerynek, E. (2025). Large doses of vitamin D in light of current guidelines regarding and recommendations. Medycyna Faktow (J EBM), 18(1(66), 14-19. https://doi.org/10.24292/01.MF.0125.02
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References
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13. Brandenburg V, Ketteler M. Vitamin D and Secondary Hyperparathyroidism in Chronic Kidney Disease: A Critical Appraisal of the Past, Present, and the Future. Nutrients. 2022; 14(15): 3009.
14. Płudowski P, Kos-Kudła B, Walczak M et al. Guidelines for Preventing and Treating Vitamin D Deficiency: A 2023 Update in Poland. Nutrients. 2023; 15(3): 695.
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17. Płudowski P, Takacs I, Boyanov M et al. Clinical Practice in the Prevention, Diagnosis and Treatment of Vitamin D Deficiency: A Central and Eastern European Expert Consensus Statement. Nutrients. 2022; 14(7): 1483.
18. Bischoff-Ferrari HA, Willett WC, Orav EJ. A pooled analysis of vitamin D dose requirements for fracture prevention. N Engl J Med. 2012; 367(1): 40-9.
19. Billington EO, Burt LA, Rose MS et al. Safety of High-Dose Vitamin D Supplementation: Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Controlled Trial. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2020; 105: 1261-73.
20. Misiorowski W, Misiorowska J, Dębski R et al. Stanowisko zepołu ekspertów w sprawie stosowania wysokich dawek witaminy D w zapobieganiu i leczeniu jej niedoboru. Medycyna po Dyplomie. 2017; sierpień: wydanie specjalne.
21. Głuszko P, Sewerynek E, Misiorowski W et al. Guidelines for the diagnosis and management of osteoporosis in Poland. Update 2022. Endokrynol Pol. 2023; 74(1): 5-15.
22. Płudowski P, Marcinowska-Suchowierska E, Togizbayev G et al. Daily and Weekly „High Doses” of Cholecalciferol for the Prevention and Treatment of Vitamin D Deficiency for Obese or Multi-Morbidity and Multi-Treatment Patients Requiring Multi-Drugs-A Narrative Review. Nutrients. 2024; 16(15): 2541.
23. Takács I, Tóth BE, Szekeres L et al. Randomized clinical trial to comparing efficacy of daily, weekly and monthly administration of vitamin D3. Endocrine. 2017; 55(1): 60-5.
24. Marcinowska-Suchowierska E, Kupisz-Urbańska M, Łukaszkiewicz J et al. Vitamin D Toxicity-A Clinical Perspective. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2018; 20(9): 550.
25. Dudenkov DV, Yawn BY, Oberhelman SS et al. Changing Incidence of Serum 25-Hydroxyvitamin D Values Above 50 ng/mL: A 10-Year Population- Based Study. Mayo Clin Proc. 2015; 90: 577-86.
26. Malihi Z, Lawes C, Wu Z et al. Monthly high-dose vitamin D supplementation does not increase kidney stone risk or serum calcium: results from a randomized controlled trial. Am J Clin Nutr. 2019; 109(6): 1578-87.
27. Saponaro F, Saba A, Zucchi R. An Update on Vitamin D Metabolism. Int J Mol Sci. 2020; 21(18): 6573.
2. Pilz S, Zittermann A, Trummer C et al. Vitamin D testing and treatment: A narrative review of current evidence. Endocr Connect. 2019; 8: R27-43.
3. Maretzke F, Bechthold A, Egert S et al. Role of Vitamin D in Preventing and Treating Selected Extraskeletal Diseases – An Umbrella Review. Nutrients. 2020; 12: 969.
4. Zittermann A, Trummer C, Theiler-Schwetz V et al. Vitamin D and Cardiovascular Disease: An Updated Narrative Review. Int J Mol Sci. 2021; 22: 2896.
5. Bouillon R, Manousaki D, Rosen C et al. The health effects of vitamin D supplementation: Evidence from human studies. Nat Rev Endocrinol. 2021; 18: 96-110.
6. Pilz S, Zittermann A, Obeid R et al. The Role of Vitamin D in Fertility and during Pregnancy and Lactation: A Review of Clinical Data. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2018; 15: 2241.
7. Holick MF. The vitamin D deficiency pandemic: Approaches for diagnosis, treatment and prevention. Rev Endocr Metab Disord. 2017; 18: 153-65.
8. Gaksch M, Jorde R, Grimnes G et al. Vitamin D and mortality: Individual participant data meta-analysis of standardized 25-hydroxyvitamin D in 26916 individuals from a European consortium. PLoS ONE. 2017; 12: e0170791.
9. Kujach S, Lyzwinski D, Chroboczek M et al. The Effect of Vitamin D3 Supplementation on Physical Capacity among Active College-Aged Males. Nutrients. 2020; 12(7): 1936.
10. van Schoor N, Lips P. Global overview of vitamin D status. Endocrinol Metab Clin North Am. 2017; 46(4): 845.
11. Vranić L, Mikolašević I, Milić S. Vitamin D Deficiency: Consequence or Cause of Obesity? Medicina (Kaunas). 2019; 55(9): 541.
12. Bocheva G, Slominski RM, Slominski AT. The Impact of Vitamin D on Skin Aging. Int J Mol Sci. 2021; 22(16): 9097.
13. Brandenburg V, Ketteler M. Vitamin D and Secondary Hyperparathyroidism in Chronic Kidney Disease: A Critical Appraisal of the Past, Present, and the Future. Nutrients. 2022; 14(15): 3009.
14. Płudowski P, Kos-Kudła B, Walczak M et al. Guidelines for Preventing and Treating Vitamin D Deficiency: A 2023 Update in Poland. Nutrients. 2023; 15(3): 695.
15. Cashman KD, Dowling KG, Skrabakova Z et al. Vitamin D deficiency in Europe: Pandemic? Am J Clin Nutr. 2016; 103: 1033-44.
16. Lips P, Cashman KD, Lamberg-Allardt C et al. Current vitamin D status in European and Middle East countries and strategies to prevent vitamin D deficiency: A position statement of the European Calcified Tissue Society. Eur J Endocrinol. 2019; 180: P23-54.
17. Płudowski P, Takacs I, Boyanov M et al. Clinical Practice in the Prevention, Diagnosis and Treatment of Vitamin D Deficiency: A Central and Eastern European Expert Consensus Statement. Nutrients. 2022; 14(7): 1483.
18. Bischoff-Ferrari HA, Willett WC, Orav EJ. A pooled analysis of vitamin D dose requirements for fracture prevention. N Engl J Med. 2012; 367(1): 40-9.
19. Billington EO, Burt LA, Rose MS et al. Safety of High-Dose Vitamin D Supplementation: Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Controlled Trial. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2020; 105: 1261-73.
20. Misiorowski W, Misiorowska J, Dębski R et al. Stanowisko zepołu ekspertów w sprawie stosowania wysokich dawek witaminy D w zapobieganiu i leczeniu jej niedoboru. Medycyna po Dyplomie. 2017; sierpień: wydanie specjalne.
21. Głuszko P, Sewerynek E, Misiorowski W et al. Guidelines for the diagnosis and management of osteoporosis in Poland. Update 2022. Endokrynol Pol. 2023; 74(1): 5-15.
22. Płudowski P, Marcinowska-Suchowierska E, Togizbayev G et al. Daily and Weekly „High Doses” of Cholecalciferol for the Prevention and Treatment of Vitamin D Deficiency for Obese or Multi-Morbidity and Multi-Treatment Patients Requiring Multi-Drugs-A Narrative Review. Nutrients. 2024; 16(15): 2541.
23. Takács I, Tóth BE, Szekeres L et al. Randomized clinical trial to comparing efficacy of daily, weekly and monthly administration of vitamin D3. Endocrine. 2017; 55(1): 60-5.
24. Marcinowska-Suchowierska E, Kupisz-Urbańska M, Łukaszkiewicz J et al. Vitamin D Toxicity-A Clinical Perspective. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2018; 20(9): 550.
25. Dudenkov DV, Yawn BY, Oberhelman SS et al. Changing Incidence of Serum 25-Hydroxyvitamin D Values Above 50 ng/mL: A 10-Year Population- Based Study. Mayo Clin Proc. 2015; 90: 577-86.
26. Malihi Z, Lawes C, Wu Z et al. Monthly high-dose vitamin D supplementation does not increase kidney stone risk or serum calcium: results from a randomized controlled trial. Am J Clin Nutr. 2019; 109(6): 1578-87.
27. Saponaro F, Saba A, Zucchi R. An Update on Vitamin D Metabolism. Int J Mol Sci. 2020; 21(18): 6573.