Associations Between Change in Total and Free 25-Hydroxyvitamin D With 24,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D and Parathyroid Hormone.

Context: The physiologic role of free 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] in humans is unclear. Objective: To assess whether rise in total vs free 25(OH)D is associated with change in downstream biomarkers of 25(OH)D entry into target cells in kidney and parathyroid: 24,25-dihyroxyvitamin D [24,25(OH)2D] and PTH, respectively. Design: 16-week randomized controlled trial. Intervention: 60 µg (2400 IU)/d of D3 or 20 µg/d of 25(OH)D3. Setting: Academic medical center. Participants: 35 adults age ≥18 years with 25(OH)D levels < 20 ng/mL. Main Outcome Measures: 24,25(OH)2D, 1,25-dihyroxyvitamin D [1,25(OH)2D] and PTH. Results: At baseline, participants [D3 and 25(OH)D3 groups combined] were 35.1 ± 10.6 years. Mean total 25(OH)D, free 25(OH)D, 24,25(OH)2D, and PTH were 16.6 ng/mL, 4.6 pg/mL, 1.3 ng/mL, and 37.2 pg/mL, respectively. From 0 to 4 weeks, rise in only free 25(OH)D was associated with a concurrent 24,25(OH)2D increase [P = 0.03, adjusted for change in 1,25(OH)2D and supplementation regimen] and PTH decrease (P = 0.01, adjusted for change in calcium and supplementation regimen). Between 4 and 8 weeks, and again from 8 to 16 weeks, rises in free and total 25(OH)D were associated with 24,25(OH)2D increase; in contrast, rise in neither total nor free 25(OH)D was associated with PTH decrease during these time periods. Conclusions: Early rise in free 25(OH)D during treatment of vitamin D deficiency was more strongly associated with changes in biomarkers of 25(OH)D entry into target kidney and parathyroid cells, suggesting a physiologic role of free 25(OH)D in humans.

Effects of Cholecalciferol vs Calcifediol on Total and Free 25-Hydroxyvitamin D and Parathyroid Hormone.

CONTEXT: Vitamin D deficiency disproportionately affects nonwhite individuals. Controversy persists over how to best restore low 25D levels, and how to best define vitamin D status [total (protein bound plus free) vs free 25D]. OBJECTIVE: To assess the effects of vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol, or D3) vs 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 (calcifediol, or 25D3) on total and free 25D in a multiethnic cohort of adults, and whether change in parathyroid hormone (PTH) is more strongly associated with total vs free 25D. DESIGN: Sixteen-week randomized controlled trial. Biochemistries at 0, 4, 8, and 16 weeks. SETTING: Academic medical center. PARTICIPANTS: Thirty-five adults ≥18 years of age with 25D levels <20 ng/mL. INTERVENTION: Sixty micrograms (2400 IU)/d of D3 or 20 µg/d of 25D3. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Total and free 25D, and PTH. RESULTS: Baseline total (16.2 ± 3.7 vs 17.0 ± 2.5 ng/mL; P = 0.4) and free (4.2 ± 0.8 vs 4.7 ± 1.0 pg/mL; P = 0.2) 25D were similar between D3 and 25D3 groups, respectively; 25D3 increased total (+25.5 vs +13.8 ng/mL; P = 0.001) and free (+6.6 vs +3.5 pg/mL; P = 0.03) 25D more than D3. By 4 weeks, 87.5% of 25D3 participants had total 25D levels ≥30 ng/mL, compared with 23.1% of D3 participants (P = 0.001). Change in PTH was associated with both total (P = 0.01) and free 25D (P = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS: 25D3 increased total and free 25D levels more rapidly than D3, regardless of race/ethnicity. Free and total 25D were similarly associated with change in PTH.