TREATING VITAMIN D DEFICIENCY

What formulations are available to treat Vitamin D deficiency?

As we learnt in a previous article, there are two main types of vitamin D: vitamin D2 (ergocalciferol) and vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol).¹ As our bodies absorb cholecalciferol more easily, it is better at boosting our vitamin D levels, making it the preferred choice for treatment and prevention of vitamin D deficiency.^1,2 This is why cholecalciferol is the form most commonly used in supplements. Some of the formulations of vitamin D available include:

•	Oral vitamin D formulations
	o	Oral solution in ampoules, e.g. D-Cure 25,000 IU cholecalciferol oral solution (prescription only).³
	o	Sprays, e.g. Ocean Health Clinical Series D-Vita Vitamin D3 Oral Spray (Clinical Series product range is exclusive to select clinics and hospitals).
	o	Soft gels, e.g. Ocean Health Vitamin D3 1,000 IU soft gel.
	o	Tablets (some chewable).
	o	Effervescent tablets to dissolve in water and drink.
•	Oral vitamin D formulations that include other nutrients
	o	Soft gels, e.g. Ocean Health High Strength Omega-3 Vitamin D3-Enriched (concentrated fish oil containing omega 3 and vitamin D3).
	o	Tablets containing vitamin D and calcium.
•	Injections delivered directly to the muscle (intramuscular) or bloodstream (intravenous) (prescription only).

Children and individuals who have trouble swallowing tablets may prefer the liquid ampoule solutions or sprays as they easily administered. These formulations would mean no extra tablets for patients who already take many pills daily for multiple chronic conditions. People who need to limit their fat intake or those with irregular eating habits could choose an oil-based formulation (e.g. D-Cure^®, Ocean Health Clinical Series D-Vita Vitamin D3 Oral Spray or Vitamin D3 1,000 IU soft gel) as the vitamin D will still be absorbed well even if not taken with food.

Unsure which formulation is best for you or your family? Speak to your healthcare provider for advice.

References
1) Fookes C. Vitamin D. Available at: https://www.drugs.com/vitamin-d.html. Accessed 30 June 2021.
2) National Institutes of Health. Vitamin D Fact Sheet for Consumers. Available at:
https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminD-Consumer/. Accessed 30 June 2021.
3) MIMS Singapore. D-Cure® (vitamin D) [prescribing information]. Available at:
https://www.mims.com/singapore/drug/info/d-cure?type=full. Accessed 1 July 2021.