The pharmacokinetic differences between 10- and 15-μg daily vitamin D doses

Br J Clin Pharmacol. 2024 Oct;90(10):2611-2620. doi: 10.1111/bcp.16146. Epub 2024 Jun 26.

Abstract

Aims: The reference nutrient intake for vitamin D in people aged ≥4 years is 10 μg/day (400 IU/day) in the UK, but the recommended daily allowance is 15 μg/day (600 IU/day) for people aged 1-70 years in the USA. Here, we aim to compare the 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) serum concentration profiles between the 2 doses.

Methods: With world-wide trial data of adults aged ≥18 years, 45-93 kg, we constructed a minimal physiologically based pharmacokinetics model of serum concentrations of vitamin D and 25(OH)D using nonlinear mixed effects modelling. We used this model to forecast the mean, 2.5th and 97.5th percentiles for serum 25(OH)D concentrations in British adults aged ≥16 years.

Results: Our final model used bodyweight to adjust volume of each compartment and maximum clearance of 25(OH)D. No other covariate was identified. The model accurately predicted independent data from trials of a broad range of dosing regimens. We simulated British adults and showed that circulating 25(OH)D concentrations in 95% of people taking 10 μg/day for a year is predicted to reach 50 nmol/L in 32 weeks, while 97.5% of those on 15 μg/day were predicted to attain this threshold within 28 weeks.

Conclusion: Both doses are efficacious in >95% of the British population. The daily dose of 15 μg can help 97.5% of the British adults achieve 50 nmol/L serum 25(OH)D and reach the 25 nmol/L threshold in 4 weeks.

Keywords: Physiologically‐based Pharmacokinetics Modelling; Population Pharmacokinetics; Vitamin D.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Body Weight
  • Dietary Supplements
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Models, Biological*
  • Nonlinear Dynamics
  • United Kingdom
  • Vitamin D* / administration & dosage
  • Vitamin D* / analogs & derivatives
  • Vitamin D* / blood
  • Vitamin D* / pharmacokinetics
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Vitamin D
  • 25-hydroxyvitamin D