Daily Dose

» Reginster et al compared the administration of a single morning dose of a calcium/vitamin D supplement with the administration of two divided doses at 6-hour intervals in an open-label, randomised, crossover study¹

» After a control procedure without exposure to any supplements, study participants received one of two calcium/vitamin D supplement regimens: either two doses of 500 mg calcium and 400 IU vitamin D₃ (Calcia), with a 6-hour interval between doses, or one effervescent powder sachet supplying 1000 mg calcium and 880 IU vitamin D₃, taken in the morning¹

» During the first 6 hours after administration, both calcium/vitamin D preparations induced significant decreases in serum PTH levels relative to baseline and compared to control at several time points, as measured via venous blood sampling¹

» Between 6 hours and 9 hours the serum PTH levels remained suppressed compared with baseline using the twice-daily regimen; at 9 hours, there was a significant difference to control (15.91 vs 28.90 pg/ml; p=0.0004), whereas PTH levels had returned to baseline values with the once-daily regimen and there was no significant difference compared with control (26.32 vs 28.90 pg/ml; p=0.42)¹

» Therefore, the administration of two divided doses 6 hours apart provides a more prolonged decrease in serum PTH than the same total amount of calcium and vitamin D given as a single morning dose in healthy male volunteers¹

¹ Reginster J-Y et al. Influence of daily regimen calcium and vitamin D supplementation on parathyroid hormone secretion. Calcif Tissue Int 2002; 70: 78-82.

» This slide shows the different groups of people who are either at risk of calcium and vitamin D deficiency, or at risk of osteoporosis
All these groups would benefit from taking calcium and vitamin D supplements

» The availability of a range of Calcia products allows easy dose-selection for all patients, whatever their age or preferences, to meet their recommended daily allowance