Vitamin D Uptake Higher with Big Meal

CLEVELANDTaking vitamin D with the largest meal improved absorption and results with a 50-percent increase in serum levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) levels achieved, according to study published in the Journal of Bone and Mineral Research (2010; DOI:10.1002/jbmr.67).Similar increases were observed in a wide range of vitamin D doses taken for a variety of medical conditions. A prospective cohort study in an ambulatory tertiary-care referral center was conducted on 17 patients seen at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation Bone Clinic for the treatment of vitamin D deficiency who were not responding to treatment. Subjects were instructed to take their usual vitamin D supplement with the largest meal of the day. The main outcome measure was the serum 259(OH)D level after two to three months.

The dose of 25(OH)D ranged from 1,000 to 50,000 IU/d. The mean baseline serum 25(OH)D level (±SD) was 30.5 ± 4.7 ng/mL. After diet modification, the mean serum 25(OH)D level (±SD) was 47.2 ± 10.9 ng/mL. Overall, the average serum 25(OH)D level increased by 56.7 percent ± 36.7 percent. A subgroup analysis based on the weekly dose of vitamin D was performed, and a similar trend was observed.