Comparison of Vitamin D2 and Vitamin D3 Supplementation Parenterally in Raising Serum 25-Hydroxy vitamin D Status in Pediatric Patients

Abstract Background There is a controversy regarding the effect of vitamin D2 and D3 in elevating and sustaining 25(OH)D levels. Aim: This study will concentrate on the effect of parenteral administration of both vitamins on serum 25(OH)D levels. Methods Randomized controlled clinical trial, conducted in Pediatric Endocrinology Unit, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt, where 50 participants who had vitamin D deficiency were recruited. Subjects were divided into two groups, 25 patients per group (group A received a single dose of 200,000 IU of intramuscular vitamin D2 and group B received 200,000 IU of intramuscular vitamin D3). History of sun exposure and dietary intake of calcium, assessment of anthropometric measures and tanner staging, laboratory investigations were documented. Follow up of serum level of 25(OH)D was done every month for three consecutive months. Results Parenteral vitamin D3 supplementation in group B patients resulted in significantly higher increments in 25(OH)D level than that achieved by parenteral vitamin D2 supplementation in group A after 1st, 2nd, and 3rd months of the supplement (p = 0.000). Vitamin D3 supplementation resulted in a significantly greater increment in serum 25(OH)D levels from 1st to 2nd month and from 1st to 3rd month than Vitamin D2 supplementation with a P value of 0.039 and 0.018 respectively. One hundred percent of group B participants who received vitamin D3 reached sufficient level (41.04 ± 10.04) after 1 month while 80% of participants in group A who received vitamin D2 reached a sufficient level after 1 month and 20% of participants after 2 months (P = 0.018). Conclusion We can conclude that parenteral vitamin D3 supplementation was more effective in raising serum 25(OH)D status in pediatric patients than parenteral vitamin D2 supplementation.