A comparative study of cholecalciferol, dihydrotachysterol and alfacalcidol in the treatment of elderly patients with hypocalcaemia.

Fifty elderly patients with hypocalcaemia were randomly treated for 8 weeks with either oral dihydrotachysterol, parenteral cholecalciferol or oral alfacalcidol. All three treatments were successful in normalizing the serum calcium levels in most patients within 2 weeks. Hypercalcaemia was seen only with alfacalcidol but was rapidly reversed once treatment was discontinued. Hypercalcaemia was not observed with either dihydrotachysterol or cholecalciferol. These therefore, require less frequent biochemical monitoring. A single cholecalciferol injection eliminates the problems of compliance.

RCT Entities:   Population Interventions Outcomes