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Minerals, trace elements, Vit. D and bone health

The effect of monthly 50 000 IU or 100 000 IU vitamin D supplements on vitamin D status in premenopausal Middle Eastern women living in Auckland

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 69, pages 367–372 (2015)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Background/Objectives:

Middle Eastern female immigrants are at an increased risk of vitamin D deficiency and their response to prescribed vitamin D dosages may not be adequate and affected by other factors. The objectives were to determine vitamin D deficiency and its determinants in Middle Eastern women living in Auckland, New Zealand (Part-I), and to determine serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (serum-25(OH)D) response to two prescribed vitamin D dosages (Part-II) in this population.

Participants/Methods:

Women aged ⩾20 (n=43) participated in a cross-sectional pilot study during winter (Part-I). In Part-II, women aged 20–50 years (n=62) participated in a randomised, double-blind placebo-controlled trial consuming monthly either 50 000, 100 000 IU vitamin D3 or placebo for 6 months (winter to summer).

Results:

All women in Part-I and 60% women in Part-II had serum-25(OH)D<50 nmol/l. Serum-25(OH)D was higher in prescribed vitamin D users than nonusers (P=0.001) and in Iranians than Arab women (P=0.001; Part-I). Mean (s.d.) serum-25(OH)D increased in all groups (time effect, P<0.001) and differed between groups (time × dosage interaction, P<0.001; 50 000 IU: from 44.0±16.0 to 70.0±15.0 nmol/l; 100 000 IU: 48.0±11.0 to 82.0±17.0 nmol/l; placebo: 45.0±18.0 to 54.0±18.0 nmol/l). Only 32% and 67% achieved serum-25(OH)D⩾75 nmol/l with 50 000 and 100 000 IU/month, respectively. Predictors of 6-month change in serum-25(OH)D were dose (B-coefficient±s.e.; 14.1±2.4, P<0.001), baseline serum-25(OH)D (−0.6±0.1, P<0.001) and body fat percentage (−0.7±0.3, P=0.01).

Conclusions:

Vitamin D deficiency/insufficiency is highly prevalent in this population. Monthly 100 000 IU vitamin D for 6 months is more effective than 50 000 IU in achieving serum-25(OH)D ⩾75 nmol/l; however, a third of women still did not achieve these levels.

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Acknowledgements

We wish to thank research project manager, Owen Mugridge, and laboratory manager, PC Tong, for their ongoing support and help The study was registered under the Trial registration no: ACTRN12613000383763.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Food, Nutrition and Human Health, Massey University, Auckland, New Zealand

    H Mazahery & P R von Hurst

  2. Commonwealth Scientific Industrial Research Organisation, Food and Nutrition Flagship, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia

    W Stonehouse

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Correspondence to P R von Hurst.

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Mazahery, H., Stonehouse, W. & von Hurst, P. The effect of monthly 50 000 IU or 100 000 IU vitamin D supplements on vitamin D status in premenopausal Middle Eastern women living in Auckland. Eur J Clin Nutr 69, 367–372 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1038/ejcn.2014.264

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