Response of serum 25(OH)D to Vitamin D and calcium supplementation in school-children from a semi-rural setting in India.

The objectives of this study were to: 1) Determine the impact of varying baseline serum 25OHD on increase in vitamin D concentrations after daily supplementation with vitamin D and calcium (1000 IU + 500 mg respectively) for six months in school-children from a semi-rural setting 2) Test the efficacy of daily vitamin D-calcium supplementation on improvement in serum vitamin D concentrations to ≥75 nmol/L. Data collected from 106 subjects (58 boys, 48 girls), aged 6-12 years, included anthropometric measures like height and weight, body composition analysis, three one-day dietary recalls and sunlight exposure (by questionnaire). Blood was collected at baseline and endline and estimated for serum vitamin D by ELISA technique using standard kits. Classification of Vitamin D status was performed according to the 2011 Endocrine Society Practice Guidelines: vitamin D deficiency - <50 nmol/L; insufficiency - 50.0-74.9 nmol/L; sufficiency - ≥75 nmol/L. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS software. Mean baseline serum vitamin D concentration was 59.7 ±â€¯11.2 nmol/L; this rose to 79.8 ±â€¯23.3 nmol/L with no significant differences between genders at the two time-points. Inverse relationship was obtained between baseline serum 25(OH)D concentrations and change in serum concentrations after supplementation, implying that with increasing baseline serum concentrations of 25(OH)D, increase in vitamin D levels post supplementation were significantly lower (r = - 0.96, p < 0.0001). Greatest benefit of change in serum vitamin D concentrations after supplementation was experienced by children with basal concentrations of <45 nmol/L. Daily vitamin D supplementation was effective in improving serum 25(OH)D to ≥75 nmol/L in 44% of children. Significantly higher percentage of children who were deficient at baseline (64%) were able to attain serum concentrations of ≥75 nmol/L as compared to children who were vitamin D insufficient (43%) (p < 0.001). Thus, daily supplementation with 1000 IU of vitamin D along with 500 mg of calcium helped in improving serum vitamin D concentrations to ≥75 nmol/L. Children who were vitamin D deficient particularly experienced these benefits.

Role of Pradhamana Nasya and Trayodashanga Kwatha in the management of Dushta Pratishyaya with special reference to chronic sinusitis.

Dushta Pratishyaya is the chronic stage of Pratishyaya, which occurs due to neglect or improper management of the disease Pratishyaya. In modern science, chronic sinusitis can be correlated with Dushta Pratishyaya on the basis of the signs, symptoms, complications, and prognosis. Changing lifestyles, rapid urbanization, and the increase in cases of antibiotic resistance are responsible for the rise in the prevalence of sinusitis. In the present clinical study, 37 patients were registered and were randomly divided into three groups: A, B, and C; of the 37 patients, 31 completed the full course of treatment. In group A, Trayodashanga Kwatha with Madhu was given orally; in group B, Pradhamana Nasya with Trikatu + Triphala Churna was administered; and in group C (combined group), Pradhamana Nasya was administered initially, followed by oral Trayodashanga Kwatha with Madhu. In group A, complete relief was observed in 10% of the patients; in group B, marked improvement was observed in 81.82% of patients; and in group C, marked relief was observed in 60% of patients. In comparison to other groups (Group A and Group B), Group C showed percentage wise better results in most of the symptoms.