Unlabelled: This prospective study finds that ergocalciferol 50,000 IU three times weekly for four weeks effectively and safely corrects vitamin D inadequacy in nursing home residents.
Introduction: Low vitamin D status is common among nursing home residents and contributes to bone loss, falls and fractures. The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of short course, high dose, oral vitamin D(2) (ergocalciferol) treatment.
Methods: This prospective study included 63 nursing home residents. The 25 with low vitamin D status (serum 25(OH)D < or = 25 ng/ml) received oral ergocalciferol 50,000 IU three times weekly for four weeks; the others received no change to their routine care. Serum total 25(OH)D, 25(OH)D(2), 25(OH)D(3), calcium, parathyroid hormone (PTH), bone turnover markers and neuro-cognitive assessments were obtained at baseline and four weeks.
Results: Mean total 25(OH)D concentration increased (p < 0.0001) from 17.3 to 63.8 ng/ml in the treated group and remained unchanged in the comparison group. Serum 25(OH)D(3) remained stable in the comparison group, but declined (p < 0.0001) with D(2) treatment from 15.4 to 9.1 ng/ml. Serum PTH trended down in the treatment group (p = 0.06). No treatment-induced improvement in ambulation, cognition or behavior was observed. No hypercalcemia or other adverse effects were observed with ergocalciferol treatment.
Conclusion: Four weeks of oral vitamin D(2) supplementation effectively and safely normalizes serum 25(OH)D in nursing home residents.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
---|---|
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00198-008-0619-x | DOI Listing |
JAMA Health Forum
January 2025
Department of Health Policy and Management, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts.
Importance: Skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) experienced high mortality during the COVID-19 pandemic, leading them to adopt preventive measures to counteract viral spread. A critical appraisal of these measures is essential to support SNFs in managing future infectious disease outbreaks.
Objective: To perform a scoping review of data and evidence on the use and effectiveness of preventive measures implemented from 2020 to 2024 to prevent COVID-19 infection in SNFs in the US.
Br J Clin Pharmacol
January 2025
Registry of Senior Australians (ROSA), South Australian Health & Medical Research Institute, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
Aims: Antidepressant use increases around long-term care facility (LTCF) entry, and initiation during hospitalizations may contribute to this. This study characterized the care setting (i.e.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBMC Nutr
January 2025
School of Public Health, Collage of Health and Medical Sciences, Haramaya University, Harar, Ethiopia.
Background: Human immunodeficiency virus continues to be a major global public health issue. Body mass index is a general indicator of nutritional status and has emerged as a powerful predictor of morbidity and mortality among adult PLHIV initiating antiretroviral therapy in resource-limited settings. However, there is a dearth of information regarding longitudinal changes in body mass index and its predictors among adult PLHIV in Ethiopia, particularly in the study area.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBMC Public Health
January 2025
Department of Endocrinology, Lishui People's Hospital, Lishui, Zhejiang, China.
Background: Self-care, a process of maintaining health through health-promoting practices and managing illness, is pivotal for the management of type 2 diabetes. This study aimed to explore the self-care level and investigate its socio-demographic and clinical determinants among Chinese adults with type 2 diabetes.
Methods: In this multicenter cross-sectional study, we enrolled 495 Chinese adults with type 2 diabetes from the outpatient departments of three tertiary hospitals in Zhejiang province, China.
BMC Geriatr
January 2025
Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Background: During the COVID-19 pandemic, nursing home (NH) residents faced the highest risk of severe COVID-19 disease and mortality. Due to their frailty status, comorbidity burden can serve as a useful predictive indicator of vulnerability in this frail population. However, the prognostic value of these cumulative comorbidity scores like the Charlson comorbidity index (CCI) remained unclear in this population.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEnter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!