Risks of the 'Sunshine pill' - a case of hypervitaminosis D

Influence of Vitamin D supplementation on reproductive outcomes of infertile patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Low vitamin D status has been associated with an increased risk for infertility. Recent evidence regarding the efficacy of vitamin D supplementation in improving reproductive outcomes is inconsistent. Therefore, this systematic review was conducted to investigate whether vitamin D supplementation could improve the reproductive outcomes of infertile patients and evaluate how the parameters of vitamin D supplementation affected the clinical pregnancy rate.

METHODS

We searched seven electronic databases (CNKI, Cqvip, Wanfang, PubMed, Medline, Embase, and Cochrane Library) up to March 2022. Randomized and cohort studies were collected to assess the reproductive outcomes difference between the intervention (vitamin D) vs. the control (placebo or none). Mantel-Haenszel random effects models were used. Effects were reported as odds ratio (OR) and their 95% confidence interval (CI). PROSPERO database registration number: CRD42022304018.

RESULTS

Twelve eligible studies (n = 2352) were included: 9 randomized controlled trials (RCTs, n = 1677) and 3 cohort studies (n = 675). Pooled results indicated that infertile women treated with vitamin D had a significantly increased clinical pregnancy rate compared with the control group (OR: 1.70, 95% CI: 1.24-2.34; I² = 63%, P = 0.001). However, the implantation, biochemical pregnancy, miscarriage, and multiple pregnancy rates had no significant difference (OR: 1.86, 95% CI: 1.00-3.47; I² = 85%, P = 0.05; OR: 1.49; 0.98-2.26; I² = 63%, P = 0.06; OR: 0.98, 95% CI: 0.63-1.53; I² = 0%, P = 0.94 and OR: 3.64, 95% CI: 0.58-11.98; I² = 68%, P = 0.21). The improvement of clinical pregnancy rate in the intervention group was influenced by the vitamin D level of patients, drug type, the total vitamin D dosage, the duration, administration frequency, and daily dosage of vitamin D supplementation. The infertile women (vitamin D level < 30 ng/mL) treated with the multicomponent drugs including vitamin D (10,000-50,000 IU or 50,000-500,000 IU), or got vitamin D 1000-10,000 IU daily, lasting for 30-60 days could achieve better pregnancy outcome.

CONCLUSION

To the best of our knowledge, this is the first meta-analysis systematically investigated that moderate daily dosing of vitamin D supplementation could improve the clinical pregnancy rate of infertile women and reported the effects of vitamin D supplementation parameters on pregnancy outcomes. A larger sample size and high-quality RCTs are necessary to optimize the parameters of vitamin D supplementation to help more infertile patients benefit from this therapy.

Vitamin D intoxication and severe hypercalcaemia complicating nutritional supplements misuse

This case report discusses an uncommon presentation of vitamin D intoxication and severe hypercalcaemia attributed to misuse of multiple nutritional supplements (˃20 active agents). A review of this case, supported by accumulated literature, lends room to further public health safety discussions. The multisystemic clinical manifestations of vitamin D toxicity can be debilitating, hence the need to prevent its occurrence.

Vitamin D Toxicity Managed with Peritoneal Dialysis

Vitamin D deficiency is a global health issue that afflicts more than one billion children and adults worldwide. Vitamin D supplementation has increased over the years, whether through medical prescriptions, over-the-counter, or online purchasing. This is driven by a more recognized association between vitamin D sufficiency status and lower risk of cancer. In addition, more recently, it is used as a potential prophylactic and treatment for COVID-19 infection. This can lead to toxicity from overingestion. While rare, it has been reported in the literature. In this case report, we present a 75-year-old man with severe hypercalcemia secondary to vitamin D toxicity managed with peritoneal dialysis. He presented with biochemical evidence of hypercalcemia, acute kidney injury, and pancreatitis. Workup for his hypercalcemia led to the diagnosis of vitamin D toxicity as shown by a level greater than 200 ng/dL (Ref: 20-50 ng/mL) was confirmed by liquid chromatography-mass spectroscopy. Cornerstone medical management of hypercalcemia was provided which included aggressive intravenous fluid hydration, intravenous diuretics, calcitonin, bisphosphonate, and corticosteroid therapy. At every interruption of therapy, calcium levels trended upward. A thorough literature review yielded the finding of a sole case report from 1966 presented at the Third International Congress of Nephrology, in which peritoneal dialysis was used in the management of vitamin D toxicity and hypercalcemia. This modality is established to cause vitamin D deficiency. In collaboration with the nephrology team, 10 sessions of peritoneal dialysis were undertaken with resolution of hypercalcemia and downtrend in 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels as measured by dilution.

Calcium Alkali Syndrome Treated With Hemodialysis

Malignancy, primary hyperparathyroidism, and vitamin D intoxication are the most common causes of hypercalcemia. Symptoms of hypercalcemia are nonspecific and require a plasma calcium level to diagnose. Undiagnosed hypercalcemia can cause renal failure long-term. Here, we describe a unique case of hypercalcemia resulting in acute kidney injury (AKI) secondary to overconsumption of calcium carbonate (Tums).