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Original article
Vitamin D in corticosteroid-naïve and corticosteroid-treated Duchenne muscular dystrophy: what dose achieves optimal 25(OH) vitamin D levels?
  1. Nahla Alshaikh,
  2. Andreas Brunklaus,
  3. Tracey Davis,
  4. Stephanie A Robb,
  5. Ros Quinlivan,
  6. Pinki Munot,
  7. Anna Sarkozy,
  8. Francesco Muntoni,
  9. Adnan Y Manzur
  10. on behalf of Dubowitz Neuromuscular Team
  1. Dubowitz Neuromuscular Centre, Great Ormond Street Hospital, UCL Institute of Child Health, London, UK
  1. Correspondence to Dr Adnan Manzur, Great Ormond Street Hospital, UCL Institute of Child Health, Great Ormond Street, London WC1N 3JH, UK; Adnan.Manzur{at}gosh.nhs.uk

Abstract

Aim Assessment of the efficacy of vitamin D replenishment and maintenance doses required to attain optimal levels in boys with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD).

Method 25(OH)-vitamin D levels and concurrent vitamin D dosage were collected from retrospective case-note review of boys with DMD at the Dubowitz Neuromuscular Centre. Vitamin D levels were stratified as deficient at <25 nmol/L, insufficient at 25–49 nmol/L, adequate at 50–75 nmol/L and optimal at >75 nmol/L.

Result 617 vitamin D samples were available from 197 boys (range 2–18 years)—69% from individuals on corticosteroids. Vitamin D-naïve boys (154 samples) showed deficiency in 28%, insufficiency in 42%, adequate levels in 24% and optimal levels in 6%. The vitamin D-supplemented group (463 samples) was tested while on different maintenance/replenishment doses. Three-month replenishment of daily 3000 IU (23 samples) or 6000 IU (37 samples) achieved optimal levels in 52% and 84%, respectively. 182 samples taken on 400 IU revealed deficiency in 19 (10%), insufficiency in 84 (47%), adequate levels in 67 (37%) and optimal levels in 11 (6%). 97 samples taken on 800 IU showed deficiency in 2 (2%), insufficiency in 17 (17%), adequate levels in 56 (58%) and optimal levels in 22 (23%). 81 samples were on 1000 IU and 14 samples on 1500 IU, with optimal levels in 35 (43%) and 9 (64%), respectively. No toxic level was seen (highest level 230 nmol/L).

Conclusions The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency in DMD is high. A 2-month replenishment regimen of 6000 IU and maintenance regimen of 1000–1500 IU/day was associated with optimal vitamin D levels. These data have important implications for optimising vitamin D dosing in DMD.

  • Neuromuscular
  • Neurology
  • Nutrition
  • Paediatric Practice
  • General Paediatrics

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