Cholecalciferol Capsules
Overview of Cholecalciferol Capsules
Dosage Strength
5,000 IU, 10,000 IU, 25,000 IU, 50,000 IUGeneral Information
Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin that comes in two forms: cholecalciferol (vitamin D3) and ergocalciferol (vitamin D4) (vitamin D2). Vitamin D is added to a variety of meals, including milk and cereal. Other dietary sources include fish liver oils, fatty fish, and vitamin D-supplemented eggs from hens. The changes in chemical structure between the two forms of vitamin D have no effect on metabolism or clinical reactions once activated within the body. Although animal research have shown that vitamin D3 is less harmful than vitamin D2, human studies have proven inconsistent. 1 Vitamin D is necessary for optimal bone growth and mineralization and is essential for proper calcium and phosphate balance. Patient-specific dose can be estimated by testing serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] concentrations, which represent all vitamin D sources (e.g., sunlight and dietary or from supplements). Although cholecalciferol is approved for use in a variety of diseases, its principal application is vitamin D replenishment, as well as the prevention and treatment of vitamin D insufficiency and rickets.
NOTE: Nutraceuticals are promoted in the United States under the Dietary Supplement and Health Education Act of 1994. (DSHEA). As a result, nutraceuticals are not subject to the same regulations as medicines; scientific evidence supporting stated benefit(s) is not always accessible for nutraceuticals. Consumers should also be aware that strict quality control requirements are not necessary for nutraceuticals, and significant fluctuation in both potency and purity can occur.
References
1.Institute of Medicine (IOM), Food and Nutrition Board. Dietary Reference Intakes for Calcium and Vitamin D. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press, 2011.
2.Jones G. Pharmacokinetics of vitamin D toxicity. Am J Clin Nutr 2008;88(suppl):582S-6S.
3.Wagner CL, Greer FR, and the Section on Breastfeeding and Committee on Nutrition. Prevention of rickets and Vitamin D deficiency in Infants, Children, and Adolescents. Pediatrics 2008;112:1142-1152.
4.Drisdol (ergocalciferol) package insert. New York, NY: Sanofi-Synthelabo, Inc.; 2009 Nov.
5.Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes. KDIGO Clinical Practice Guideline for the Diagnosis, Evaluation, Prevention, and Treatment of Chronic Kidney Disease-Mineral and Bone Disorder (CKD_MBD). 2009. http://www.kdigo.org/pdf/KDIGO%20CKD-MBD%20GL%20KI%20Suppl%20113.pdf.
6.Standing Committee on the Scientific Evaluation of Dietary Reference Intakes – Panel on Dietary Reference Intakes, Food and Nutrition Board, Institute of Medicine (IOM). Dietary Reference Intakes for Calcium, Phosphorus, Magnesium, Vitamin D, and Fluoride. The National Academy of Sciences Press, Washington DC; 1997
7.Drisdol (ergocalciferol) package insert. New York, NY: Sanofi-Synthelabo, Inc.; 2009 Nov.
8.Rocaltrol® (calcitriol) package insert. Nutley, NJ: Roche Laboratories, Inc.; 2004 Jul.
9.Hectorol® (doxercalciferol) package insert. Middleton, WI: Bone Care International, Inc.; 2005 Jun.
10.Drisdol® (ergocalciferol) package insert. New York, NY: Sanofi-Synthelabo, Inc.; 2003 Dec.
11.Chan JC, Jacob M, Brown S, et al. Aluminum metabolism in rats: effects of vitamin D, dihydrotachysterol, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D and phosphate binders. Nephron1988;48:61—4.
12.McNamara JO. Drugs effective in the therapy of the epilepsies. Gilman AG, Hardman JG, Limbird LE, (eds.) In: Goodman and Gilman’s The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics. 10th ed., New York, McGraw-Hill Companies. 2001:530—2.
13.Marcus R. Agents affecting calcification and bone turnover: Calcium phosphate, parathyroid hormone, vitamin D, calcitonin, and other compounds. Gilman AG, Hardman JG, Limbird LE, (eds.) In: Goodman and Gilman’s The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics. 10th ed., New York, McGraw-Hill Companies. 2001:1715—43.
14.Lanoxin® (digoxin) package insert. Research Triangle Park, NC: Glaxo Smith Kline; 2001 Aug.
15.Amin S, LaValley MP, Simms RW, et al. The role of vitamin D in corticosteroid-induced osteoporosis: an analytical approach. Arthritis Rheum 1999;42:1740—51.
16.Reid IR. Preventing glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis. N Engl J Med 1997;337:420—1.
17.Questran® and Questran® Light (cholestyramine) package insert. Spring Valley, NY: Par Pharmaceutical Inc; 2002 July.
18.Xenical® (orlistat) package insert. Nutley, NJ: Roche Laboratories Inc.; 2005 Jan.
19.Hypponen E, Fararouei M, Sovio U, et al. High-dose vitamin D supplements are not associated with linear growth in a large Finnish cohort. J Nutr 2011;141:843-848.
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