Efficacy and safety of oral continuous low-dose versus short-term high-dose vitamin D: a prospective randomised trial conducted in a clinical setting.

Objective: To compare the efficacy and safety of a 10-day, high-dose v a 3-month, continuous low-dose oral cholecalciferol course in a vitamin D deficient population. The primary end points were the change in serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) concentrations at 3 months and the development of hypercalcaemia and hypercalciuria.

Design, Setting And Participants: Fifty-nine vitamin D deficient inpatients (serum 25(OH)D < or = 50 nmol/L) were enrolled in a prospective, randomised, open-label trial.