nutrient deficiencies

Question 1

vitamin D - indications for serum vit d testing (10)

Answer 1

personal

• institutionalised or housebound patients
• wears clothing that covers most of the skin
• dark skin
• pregnant and BMI > 30

gen med

• end-stage liver disease
• kidney disease
• hyperPTH
• fat malabsorption - CF, IBD, coeliac disease, gastrectomy

medications

• rifampicin
• antiepileptics

Question 2

vit d - indications for supplementation (3)

Answer 2

moderate to severe vit d deficiency
mild vit d disease + commencing drug therapy for osteoporosis
osteomalacia or rickets

Question 3

vit D deficiency - classification of severity

Answer 3

> 50 normal
30 - 49 mild
15 - 29 moderate
< 15 severe

Question 4

vit D supplementation regimes
- mild
- moderate to severe
duration of treatment
when to repeat testing

Answer 4

mild 1000-2000 units daily
moderate to severe 3000-5000 units daily
treat for 6-12 weeks
repeat test at 6 months if mild, 3 months if moderate to severe