Figure 7.

(A) Mean serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] levels in all patients: includes patients treated with 50,000 IU vitamin D₂ every 2 weeks (maintenance therapy, n = 81), including those patients with vitamin D insufficiency who were initially treated with 8 weeks of 50,000 IU vitamin D₂ weekly prior to maintenance therapy (n = 39). Error bars represent standard error of the mean, mean result over 5 years shown. Time 0 is initiation of treatment, results shown as mean values averaged for 6 month intervals. When mean 25(OH)D in each 6 month group was compared to mean initial 25(OH)D, a significant difference was shown with p < 0.001 up until month 43 and p < 0.001 when all remaining values after month 43 were compared to mean initial 25(OH)D. (B) Mean serum 25(OH)D levels in patients receiving maintenance therapy only: Levels for 37 patients who were vitamin D insufficient (25(OH)D levels <30 ng/mL) and 5 patients who were vitamin D sufficient (25(OH)D levels ≥30 ng/mL) who were treated with maintenance therapy of 50,000 IU vitamin D₂ every two weeks. Error bars represent standard error of the mean, mean result over 5 years shown. Time 0 is initiation of treatment, results shown as mean values averaged for 6 month intervals. When mean 25(OH)D in each 6 month group were compared to mean initial 25(OH)D, a significant difference was shown with p < 0.001 up until month 37 and p < 0.001 when all remaining values after month 43 were compared to mean initial 25(OH)D. (C) Serum calcium levels: Results for all 81 patients who were treated with 50,000 IU of vitamin D₂. Error bars represent standard error of the mean. Time 0 is initiation of treatment, results shown as mean values averaged for 6 month intervals. Normal serum calcium: 8.5–10.2 mg/dL.Note: This figure is reproduced with permission from [242], Copyright © 2009 American Medical Association.