Daily v. weekly oral vitamin D3 therapy for nutritional rickets in Indian children: a randomised controlled open-label trial

Abstract The aim of the study was to compare the efficacy of daily v. weekly oral vitamin D3 therapy in radiological healing of nutritional rickets. Children 6 months to 12 years (n 132) diagnosed with nutritional rickets were randomised into three groups (n 44): group A – 2000 IU daily vitamin D3 for 12 weeks, B – 60 000 IU weekly for 3 weeks, C – 60 000 IU weekly for 6 weeks. Serum calcium, phosphorus, 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D), parathyroid hormone and X-ray score were estimated at baseline and 12 weeks (endline). The proportion of children who achieved complete radiological healing at endline was compared between three groups by χ2 and delta change in laboratory parameters by ANOVA (parametric data) or Kruskal Wallis test (non-parametric data), respectively. Baseline 25(OH)D ≤ 20 ng/ml was seen in 119 (90·2 %), hyperparathyroidism in 90 (68·8 %) and hypocalcaemia in 96 (72·7 %). A total of 120/132 children completed the study. Complete radiological healing seen in 30 (75 %) in group A, 23 (60·5 %) in group B and 26 (61·9 %) in group C; P = 0·15, with comparable endline X-ray scores; P = 0·31. The median (interquartile range (IQR)) delta X-ray score (baseline–endline) was 7 (4,9), 5 (2·25, 6) and 6 (4,7) in groups A, B and C, respectively; P = 0·019. Median (IQR) 25(OH)D endline levels in groups A, B and C were 50·0 (26·5, 66·5), 42·1 (28·4, 54·4) and 53·5 (33·7, 71·2) ng/ml, respectively; P = 0·045. Radiological scores were comparable at endline among daily and weekly vitamin D groups with greater change from baseline in daily supplemented group.