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Furthermore, there is a concern that ergocalciferol, the only pharmaceutical vitamin D available in the United States, may be less effective than cholecalciferol (vitamin D 3).
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1 Despite this, to our knowledge there are no long-term studies of the safety and efficacy of giving pharmacologic doses of vitamin D (50 000 IU of ergocalciferol ) to treat and prevent vitamin D deficiency. The worldwide prevalence of vitamin D deficiency is striking, and more than 40% of the population may be vitamin D deficient. Shared Decision Making and Communication.Scientific Discovery and the Future of Medicine.Health Care Economics, Insurance, Payment.Clinical Implications of Basic Neuroscience.Challenges in Clinical Electrocardiography.The reference range for serum calcium level is 8.5 to 10.2 mg/dL (to convert to millimoles per liter, multiply by 0.25). Results for all 86 patients who were treated with 50 000 IU of ergocalciferol (vitamin D 2). The data for interval months 60 and 72 were pooled, and there was a significant difference of P < .01 compared with the baseline value. The mean 25(OH)D levels in each 6-month interval were compared with mean initial 25(OH)D levels and showed a significant difference of P < .001 for all time points up to 48 months. There were 38 patients who were vitamin D insufficient (25D levels <21-29 ng/mL and 7 patients who were vitamin D sufficient (25D levels ≥30 ng/mL) who were treated only with maintenance therapy of 50 000 IU of ergocalciferol (vitamin D 2) every 2 weeks. B, Mean serum 25(OH)D levels in patients receiving maintenance therapy only. To convert 25(OH)D to nanomoles per liter, multiply by 2.496. The mean 25(OH)D level of each 6-month interval was compared with initial mean 25(OH)D level and showed a significant difference of P < .001 for all time points. Forty-one of the patients were vitamin D insufficient or deficient and first received 50 000-IU ergocalciferol weekly for 8 weeks before being placed on maintenance therapy of 50 000 IU of ergocalciferol every 2 weeks. A, Mean 25 (OH) D levels in all patients treated with 50 000 IU of ergocalciferol (vitamin D 2) every 2 weeks (maintenance therapy, n = 86). Results are given as mean (SEM) values averaged over 6-month intervals. Mean serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25D) and calcium levels.
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