Active clinical trials for "Vitamin D Deficiency"

The human immune system produces a protein called hCAP18 (also known as LL-37 or cathelicidin). This protein is believed to help the body to fight infections. Studies suggest that vitamin D may important in the production of hCAP18. This study is designed to test the ability of two different forms of vitamin D to affect levels of hCAP18. Vitamin D and hCAP18 levels will be measured during an initial visit. Individuals who are vitamin D deficient will be randomly assigned to receive one of two forms of vitamin D for two weeks. After this, follow-up levels will be measured.

Other studies suggest that low Vitamin D levels may contribute to musculoskeletal pain. Hypothesis: Administration of oral Vitamin D supplements will improve vague musculoskeletal pain in children.

In the United States, cardiovascular disease causes over one-third of all deaths and vitamin D deficiency is an epidemic. An increasing body of data suggests that low vitamin D status adversely impacts the cardiovascular system. It is our fundamental hypothesis that vitamin D deficiency is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease by causing endothelial dysfunction. Moreover, we hypothesize that vitamin D supplementation will restore endothelial function, thereby reducing cardiovascular disease risk. This pilot research will be conducted in 64 post-menopausal women participating in an existing study of vitamin D supplementation (32 will receive vitamin D3 2,500 IU daily, the others matching placebo) and will explore the effects of vitamin D on endothelial function and arterial reactivity. Post-menopausal women aged 55-65 years are chosen due to their highest risk for development of a subsequent new cardiovascular disease diagnosis. All study participants will have fasting laboratory and noninvasive vascular ultrasound studies performed at baseline and four months later. The primary outcome measure of this pilot study is change in markers of endothelial function and arterial stiffness with vitamin D3 therapy. If our hypotheses are correct, our long-term goals include investigation of the effect of vitamin D repletion on subclinical atherosclerosis and subsequent cardiovascular events.

Science News (October 2004) called vitamin D deficiency a "silent epidemic" in America, with no group unaffected. Using new guidelines of optimal vitamin D levels, more than 90% of African American women now suffer from vitamin D deficiency. Deficiency during pregnancy has profound effects on the developing fetus. Other systems besides bones are affected by vitamin D deficiency, including an increased risk of autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, type I diabetes, and certain cancers. This study proposes to examine and manage vitamin D levels in more than one thousand women in an underserved population in South Carolina. The women will be from the patient population seeking OB/GYN and Pediatric services through Eau Claire Cooperative Health Centers, Inc. (ECCHC), a network of ten clinics in three counties in the center of the state approximately 70 miles from Charleston, SC. ECCHC is one of approximately 1000 community health centers supported through Health and Human Services' (HHS) Health Resources and Services Administration's (HRSA), Bureau of Primary Health Care. The research objectives for this project will be managed through the Pediatric Nutritional Sciences Research Center of the Children's Research Institute at the Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, in collaboration with ECCHC. The research aims will evaluate vitamin D levels and possible contributing factors to the levels in pregnant women. Women who present to ECCHC within the first trimester of pregnancy will be randomized to one of two doses of vitamin D supplementation shown to be effective in other groups. Each pregnant mother will begin supplementation during the 12th week of pregnancy and will be followed closely throughout pregnancy for one year to determine the effectiveness of supplementation on vitamin D status, overall health of mother, and of her infant following delivery. We expect to observe severe vitamin D deficiency in a considerable percentage of the mothers and their infants who receive care at ECCHC, especially those individuals with darker pigmentation. When the extent of vitamin D deficiency within each racial/ethnic group is better defined and their supplementation requirements identified, we will be better able to establish guidelines for supplementation and health maintenance, and set policy recommendations for the dietary recommended intake of vitamin D. Those women and their infants identified as deficient in vitamin D will be important in establishing community health care policies for vitamin D surveillance and supplementation strategies. The results will allow us to implement specific dietary and/or medical interventions aimed at correcting hypovitaminosis D in the population in this study and other similar populations being served by the more than 1000 community health centers nationally.

This study is an experimental design study in which demographic characteristics, food consumption, biochemical parameters and anthropometric measurements of individuals with low vitamin D levels before and after consuming UV-enriched foods will be examined.

The goal of this randomized controlled trial is to explore the relationship between Vitamin D supplementation and depressive symptomatology in Saudi Arabian Population. The main questions it aims to answer are: Is Vitamin D deficiency associated with an increased prevalence of depressive symptomatology among Saudi Arabian Population? Is Vitamin D Supplementation for a period of 3-month at 50,000 International Units might be associated with an improved depressive status? All the participants were clients who attended the clinic to help with weight management - who were doing regular medical check-ups - at Al Themal Medical Center which is located in Abha, Saudi Arabia. Participants were requested to do a general blood test to check for any vitamins and minerals deficiencies as part of the routine clinical procedure. This procedure did not incur any additional costs on the behalf of the participants. The participants who were identified to have any deficiencies were recommended to take supplements, also as part of the routine clinical procedure. Therefore, participants identified to be deficient or insufficient Vitamin D levels were screened and recruited to participate in the current study. Participants were randomly assigned to either an interventional (vitamin D) or placebo group (control). The interventional group received vitamin D supplementation of 50.000International Units/week for 3 months and the placebo group received dietary advice and education on food sources of vitamin D for the same period. Both Groups received a weight gain or a weight loss diet as per their case. At the three-months follow-up, the participants were readministered the face-to-face questionnaire and their blood levels for vitamin D were also checked. Thus, this study would add value to the actions taken to treat vitamin D deficiency in Saudi Arabian adults. This might also assist in approaching new recommendations related to preventing or treating depression via vitamin D supplementation.

Isotretinoin (ISO) has been used in the treatment of patients with severe acne vulgaris (AV) that is resistant to standard therapy with systemic antibiotics and topical agents, over the last few decades. There are various side effects of ISO in the skeletal system. This study investigate the relationship between ISO-induced musculoskeletal adverse effects and serum 25 hydroxy (OH) vitamin D levels in patients with acne vulgaris.

In recent years, skeletal and nonskeletal effects of vitamin D has been studied. One of the effects of it was balance and fall prevention. However, these studies were performed on older patients who had not vitamin D deficiency. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of vitamin D replacement therapy and exercise on balance in 50-70 years-old postmenopausal women.

Studies that give people vitamin D supplements to prevent caries have found that vitamin D is effective at preventing the development of caries. The aim of Study: To determine if there is a relationship between vitamin D deficiency and the development of Early Childhood Caries (ECC).

Vitamin D intervention effects on the prevention of acute respiratory tract infections among Young Finnish Men