The Response of Elderly Veterans to Daily Vitamin D3 Supplementation of 2,000 IU: A Pilot Efficacy Study

OBJECTIVES To determine the prevalence of hypovitaminosis D (serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D < 32 ng/mL; HVD) in a population of elderly veterans and conduct a preliminary assessment of the efficacy of supplementation with cholecalciferol in correcting HVD. DESIGN Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. SETTING Geriatric clinic at the Bruce W. Carter Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Miami, Florida. PARTICIPANTS Veterans aged 70 and older. INTERVENTION Oral cholecalciferol 2,000 IU daily or placebo for 6 months. MEASUREMENTS Serum calcium, 25-hydroxyvitamin D, parathyroid hormone, and 24-hour urinary calcium. RESULTS Of the 34 participants who completed the study, 62% had HVD at baseline. In the treatment group, mean serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D level rose from 28.4 +/- 7.9 ng/mL at baseline to 42.7 +/- 10.5 ng/mL at the end of the trial, but levels remained less than 32 ng/mL in three of 17 (18%) of the participants. In the placebo group, the baseline level of 27.7 +/- 8.3 ng/mL remained unchanged (28.8 +/- 8.7 ng/mL). Supplementation did not alter serum or urinary calcium levels and did not result in any adverse events. CONCLUSION These initial observations suggest that, in older veterans, cholecalciferol 2,000 IU daily for 6 months is generally safe and corrects HVD in most but not all individuals.