Table 3.

Table summarising characteristics of available formulations of vitamin D, adjusted based on (30, 85).

Formulation	Native/active	Recommended daily dose	On-/offset of action	Indications	Side effects	Costs
Unhydroxylated, inactive form of vitamin D3CholecalciferolCalciol	Native	400–4000 IU and up to 25,000–100,000 IU by hypoparathyroidismus (85)	Onset: 10–14 daysOffset: 14–75 days	Vitamin D deficiency, osteoporosis therapy and prevention, hypoparathyroidism, prevention of rickets	Hypercalcemia (rare)	Inexpensive
Unhydroxylated, inactive form of vitamin D2ErgocalciferolVitamin D2	Native	400–4000 IU and up to 25,000–100,000 IU by hypoparathyroidismus	Onset: 10–14 daysOffset: 14–75 days	Vitamin D deficiency, osteoporosis therapy and prevention, hypoparathyroidism, prevention of rickets	Hypercalcemia (rare)	Inexpensive
Hydroxylated, active form of vitamin D1,25(OH)2DCalcitriol1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D31,25-Dihydroxycholecalciferol	Active	0.25–1.0 μg	Onset: 1–2 daysOffset: 2–3 days	Secondary hyperparathyroidism in advanced CKD, hypoparathyroidism, pseudohypoparathyroidism, not in vitamin D deficiency	Hypercalcemia/hyperphosphatemia is not uncommon (dose dependent), hypercalciuria, nephrocalcinosis	Expensive
Analog: alfacalcidol	Active	0.5–3.0 μg	Onset: 1–2 daysOffset: 5–7 days	Secondary hyperparathyroidism in advanced CKD, hypoparathyroidism, pseudohypoparathyroidism, not in vitamin D deficiency
Other active vitamin D analogs:Paricalcitol, doxercalciferol (vitamin D2 analogs)Falecalcitriol, maxacalcitol (vitamin D3 analogs)	Active			Secondary hyperparathyroidism in advanced chronic kidney disease	Hypercalcemia may occur, but less frequent compared with ‘older’ active analogs	Very expensive