Improving vitamin D status in bariatric surgery subjects with monthly high-dose ergocalciferol A randomized clinical trial

Background: Vitamin D insufficiency is common before and after bariatric surgery. Optimal supplementation to treat vitamin D insufficiency is not clearly defined. Objective: Determine if serum 25 (OH) D levels improve by the consumption of an additional monthly ergocalciferol supplement by subjects after bariatric surgery. Study design: Thirty-two subjects were randomly divided to receive an additional 100,000 IUs of ergocalciferol monthly after bariatric surgery (n=10) or standard level vitamin D supplement after bariatric surgery (n=22). Serum 25 (OH) D, calcium, and hemoglobin A1c levels were measured preoperatively and one year after bariatric surgery. Results: Mean changes in BMI at 1-year post-operation was -18.12 +/- 6.46 kg/m(2) in the control group versus -18.84 +/- 4.7 kg/m(2): p=0.638 in the vitamin D group. One year after bariatric surgery, the mean changes from baseline in vitamin D levels were 2.69 +/- 9.4 and 12.4 +/- 17.0 ng/mL in control and intervention groups, respectively. The treated group showed a marginally higher mean increase in Vitamin D than the control group, p=0.059. Other mean changes at 1-year post-surgery that were not significantly different include calcium -0.264 +/- 0.45 and -0.21 +/- 0.509 mg/dt in control and intervention groups, respectively and Hgb A1c -1.011.21 and -0.95 +/- 0.071% in control and intervention groups, respectively. Conclusion: This study showed 100,000 IUs ergocalciferol once a month is a safe and effective treatment for vitamin D insufficiency in most patients having bariatric surgery.