Injectable Vitamin D may be needed in some cases of Vitamin D deficiency or inability to increase Vitamin D level with oral supplements. Vitamin D is a fat soluble vitamin.  It plays an important role in bone metabolism and structure. It has also been found to affect the immune regulation, control off- inflammatory reactions, and also be involved in a number of broad cellular functions throughout the body.  Until a few years ago, very little attention was given to vitamin D levels. More recently, we have realized that due to a number of factors, there is a tendency for vitamin D deficiency to be present in the U.S. adult population. This finding is even more pronounced and severe in overweight patients.

The recommended dose for vitamin D supplements is much larger today than it was a few years ago. For example, it is not too uncommon to recommend an average dose of a 50,000 (IU) international unit of vitamin D by mouth on a daily basis after the duodenal switch operation.

Since vitamin D is a fat soluble vitamin, it is important that the appropriate type be utilized. Dry formulation of vitamin D is needed to ensure adequate absorption. There are a number of manufacturers that produce these. When searching for Dry Vitamin D the type a patient should be looking for is “Dry” D3-50. Some larger supplement manufacturer’s carry these products. The links to these manufacturers is located here.  The “Dry” type of Vitamin D should NOT be taken with fatty or oily foods.  Also to optimizes absorption they should be taken either 30 minutes prior to eating food or 30 minutes after eating.

If you are deficient in Vitamin D after trying “Dry” or water miscible Vitamin D then intramuscular Vitamin D injections might be an effective way to normalize your Vitamin D levels. Vitamin D can be formulated and purchased from any compounding  pharmacies that are equipped and experienced in the interpretation of injectable vitamins and minerals.  Your primary care WILL need to contact the compounding pharmacy of their choose for the recommendations and be willing to make the injections available to you. UNLESS you have been told to stop taking your daily “Dry” Vitamin D tablet supplement you should continue taking it after the injection.

We are supplying the following so that your PCP will understand the research behind injectable Vitamin D and to hopefully ensure that every patient is armed with this knowledge. Vitamin D deficiencies are becoming more common place in society due to the use of sunscreen and sun shielding clothing and hats,  not only Duodenal Switch patients.

This is a research paper out of Finland that discusses injectable Vitamin D for the aged. The information can translate to anyone who finds themselves in a Vitamin  D deficit state. https://www.gwern.net/docs/nootropics/1992-heikinheimo.pdf

This research paper is out of Australia where despite then sun drenched climate they are experiencing a large amount of people with Vitamin D deficiencies due to sunscreen, veiling, malabsorption, etc.
https://www.direct-ms.org/pdf/VitDGenScience/Vit%20D%20deficiency%20Australia%20art%20and%20ed.pdf

Below find the order sheet with the Injectable Vitamin D concentration listed. The common dosing for the vitamin D is 600,000 IU, deep IM every 6 months till the levels are normalized. The patient then can take the oral supplements only.

Finally, this is an except from an another Australian research paper describing the use of Megadoses of injectable Vitamin D in patients after Biliopancreatic Diversion which has a malabsorptive component similar to Duodenal Switch.

Just as a reminder, we have no financial interest in any of the vendors that are recommended on our website. Also note, that this is not in any form or fashion a substitute for an evaluation by your primary care physician or your surgeon. This is for information only, and is not to be taken as a recommendation for any particular patients’ condition.