RESUMO
Objective: To evaluate the effect of vitamin D and calcium supplementation forosteoprotection in thalassemia. Methods: 29 children (age 2-12 y) were supplementedwith oral vitamin D (1000 IU/d) and calcium (500 mg/d) for 1 year. The dual energy X-rayabsorptiometry (DXA) was done to assess bone mineral content at baseline and 12 months.Serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D, intact parathyroid hormone, osteocalcin, calcium, phosphate,alkaline phosphatase, and spot urine deoxypyridinoline (DPD)/creatinine were done atbaseline, 6 months and 12 months. Results: The mean (SD) bone mineral content increasedfrom baseline value of 8.4 (2.8) g to 10.8 (3.5) g (P<0.001). The mean (SD) vitamin D levelincreased from baseline value of 16.0 (5.8) ng/mL to 23.4 (6.6) ng/mL (P<0.001). Thechange in serum osteocalcin and spot urine DPD/creatinine ratio were not significant(P=0.062). Conclusions: Oral vitamin D and calcium supplementation increases bonemineral content in children with thalassemia