Blood Lead Concentration Is Not Altered by High‐Dose Vitamin D Supplementation in Children and Young Adults With HIV

Abstract

OBJECTIVES Optimal vitamin D status is known to have beneficial health effects and vitamin D supplements are commonly used. It has been suggested that vitamin D supplementation may increase blood lead in children and adults with previous lead exposure. The objective was to determine the safety regarding lead toxicity during 12 weeks of high dose vitamin D3 supplementation in children and young adults with HIV. METHODS Subjects with HIV (age 8 to 24 yrs) were randomized to vitamin D3 supplementation of 4000 IU/day or 7000 IU/day and followed at 6 and 12 weeks for changes in 25D and whole blood lead concentration. This was a secondary analysis of a larger study of vitamin D3 supplementation in children and adolescents with HIV. RESULTS In 44 subjects (75% African American), the baseline mean ± SD serum 25D was 48.3 ± 18.6 nmol/L. 50% of subjects had baseline serum 25D < 50.0 nmol/L. Serum 25D increased significantly with D3 supplementation over the 12 weeks. No subject had a whole blood lead >5.0 μg/dL at baseline or during subsequent visits. Whole blood lead and 25D were not correlated at baseline, and were negatively correlated after 12 weeks of supplementation (p= 0.014). Whole blood lead did not differ between those receiving 4000 IU versus 7000 IU of vitamin D3. CONCLUSION High dose vitamin D3 supplementation and the concomitant increased serum 25D did not result in increased whole blood lead concentration in this sample of children and young adults living in a northeastern urban city.

Vitamin D alleviates lead induced renal and testicular injuries by immunomodulatory and antioxidant mechanisms in rats

“…Our results are in agreement with the findings of numerous earlier human studies that have reported inverse correlations between blood lead levels and the serum concentrations of both VD 29 , 30 , 33 and Ca 2+ 34 – 36 . Skin exposure to ultraviolet rays is the main source of VD in the prohormone form, which is later transported to the liver to undergo the first hydroxylation step.…”

Comprehensive Safety Monitoring of 12‐Month Daily 7000‐IU Vitamin D3 Supplementation in Human Immunodeficiency Virus–Infected Children and Young Adults

“…In the dosing study preceding this present trial, we found that both 4000 IU/d and 7000 IU/d of vitD 3 were safe and well tolerated in HIV-infected participants over 3 months of use. 11,12 This study supports and extends to 12 months this finding for the higher 7000-IU/d dose and includes more comprehensive safety measures and other outcomes of interest.…”

High-dose Vitamin D3 Supplementation in Children and Young Adults with HIV

“…24 Age- and sex-specific z- scores for height, weight and BMI (kg/m 2 ) were calculated; 25 19.9y was used for subjects 20.0–24.9y. Baseline pubertal status was determined by self-assessment questionnaire 26 in subjects <18y (≥18y assumed fully mature).…”

“…Medical record reviews documented HIV disease status (CDC classification), 12;24 age at diagnosis and initiation of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). HAART was categorized as protease inhibitor- (PI), non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor- (NNRTI), and nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor-based (NRTI) regimens, and whether tenofovir or efavirenz were part of regimens.…”