Treatment of Hypovitaminosis D With Cholecalciferol in Dogs With Protein-Losing Enteropathies: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Clinical Trial.

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The effects of vitamin D supplementation are unknown in dogs with protein-losing enteropathy (PLE). OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the safety, efficacy, and clinical benefit of orally administered cholecalciferol in dogs with PLE and decreased serum concentrations of 25OHD. ANIMALS: Twenty-eight dogs with PLE, decreased 25OHD, and serum ionized calcium (iCa)&#x2009;>&#x2009;1.0&#x2009;mmol/L (n&#x2009;=&#x2009;15 treated with cholecalciferol, n&#x2009;=&#x2009;13 treated with placebo). METHODS: Prospective, double-blinded, randomized, controlled trial. Dogs randomized to receive 400&#x2009;IU/kg cholecalciferol or placebo PO daily along with standard therapy for 6&#x2009;weeks. Clinical and biochemical variables were measured at baseline (T0) and monitored at 2 (T1), 4 (T2), and 6 (T3) weeks postmedication initiation. Clinical and biochemical variables were also measured 6&#x2009;weeks following discontinuation of study medication (T4). Variables were compared in dogs with PLE receiving cholecalciferol versus placebo at T0-T4 using Student's t test or Mann-Whitney U tests and a mixed-effects model. Correlations between 25OHD and clinical and biochemical variables were also performed. RESULTS: Dogs with PLE treated with cholecalciferol had higher 25OHD concentrations at T2 compared to dogs treated with placebo (225&#x2009;nmol/L, range 72-434 vs. 80&#x2009;nmol/L, range 31-254&#x2009;nmol/L; p&#x2009;=&#x2009;0.004). Clinical and biochemical variables did not otherwise differ between dogs with PLE treated with cholecalciferol versus placebo at T0-T4. Serum albumin correlated with 25OHD at T0-T3(p&#x2009;<&#x2009;0.005 for all comparisons). Hypervitaminosis D without ionized hypercalcemia occurred in five dogs (18%). CONCLUSIONS: While PLE dogs treated with cholecalciferol had higher 25OHD concentrations at study timepoints, a clinical benefit of supplementation was not observed.