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The active form 1,25-OHD binds to the vitamin D receptor, which is present in many tissues throughout the body. Vitamin D 3 is hydroxylated into its active form 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D (1,25-OHD) in a two-step hydroxylation process. The synthesis takes place in the skin using energy from UVB radiation in sunlight.
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Vitamin D 3, or cholecalciferol, is a compound synthesized endogenously from cholesterol. Only oil drops caused a reduction in antibiotic consumption in immuno-deficient patients who did not receive immunoglobulin replacement. Conclusion: Vitamin D 3 supplementation with tablets and oil drops were equally efficient in raising S-25-OHD concentrations. In a subgroup of patients without immunoglobulin replacement, vitamin D 3 supplementation with oil drops ( n = 34) but not with tablets ( n = 60) resulted in significantly lower antibiotic administration ( p < 0.001 and p = 0.58). Both groups exhibited a significant increase in S-25-OHD-oil-drops from 55 to 86 nmol/L and tablets from 52 to 87 nmol/L-with no difference between groups ( p = 0.77). Results: Data on S-25-OHD after ≥ 3 months was available for 137 patients treated with tablets and 69 with oil drops. Tablets and oil were compared for the effect on S-25-OHD concentrations after 3–5 months and antibiotic use.
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Methods: We compared the effectiveness of tablets versus oil in raising S-25-hydroxyvitamin D (S-25-OHD) in plasma by re-analyzing data from a previously performed observational study in which immunodeficient patients with S-25-OHD concentrations <75 nmol/L were randomly prescribed vitamin D 3 tablets (1600 IU/day) or vitamin D 3 oil-drops (1500 IU/day) for twelve months. Background: Vitamin D 3 supplements are available as tablets or oil drops, but there is no consensus as to whether either of these preparations is more effective than the other.
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