Abstract
Aim: This study aims to determine the prescribing patterns of vitamin D supplements in a public hospital in Al-Kharj.
 Methodology: This cross-sectional drug utilization study was conducted at a public hospital in Al-Kharj that included a review of the outpatient electronic prescriptions in 2018. Therefore, inclusion criteria included the outpatient prescriptions that contain Vitamin D supplement in 2018. The data were collected using Microsoft Excel® and the descriptive data were represented as numbers and percentages.
 Results: In 2018, 311 patients were prescribed Alfacalcidol. Most of the patients who received Alfacalcidol were females (76.21%), aging 40-69 (58.85%). The majority of Alfacalcidol drugs were prescribed by Internal Medicine department (56.91%). In 2018, 127 patients were received Cholecalciferol. Most of the patient were females (79.53%), in the age level between 30-39 (21.26%) followed by patients less than 10 years (18.90%). The majority of Cholecalciferol drugs were prescribed by Internal Medicine department (30.71%).
 Conclusion: Vitamin D supplements were used frequently with other medicines for chronic conditions. More studies are needed to know the effect of Vitamin D supplements in the prevention or treatment of chronic diseases. Moreover, in order to use vitamin D supplements correctly, it is important to know the prescribing trends of these supplements.
Highlights
Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin that plays an important role in calcium homeostasis and bone metabolism [1]
Dermal synthesis and dietary intake are the major sources of ergocalciferol (D2) and cholecalciferol (D3), both of which are converted to 25-hydroxy-vitamin D2 (25-OH-D2) and 25hydroxy-vitamin D3 (25-OH-D3) respectively in the liver by the enzyme hepatic enzyme 25– hydroxylase
Vitamin D deficiency has been linked with significant complications such as cardiovascular events, obesity, metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, various types of cancer, immune disorders, increased mortality and adverse pregnancy outcomes [4,5,6]
Summary
Dermal synthesis and dietary intake (fatty fish livers, fortified food) are the major sources of ergocalciferol (D2) and cholecalciferol (D3), both of which are converted to 25-hydroxy-vitamin D2 (25-OH-D2) and 25hydroxy-vitamin D3 (25-OH-D3) respectively in the liver by the enzyme hepatic enzyme 25– hydroxylase. Both 25-OH-D2 and 25-OH-D3 are converted to the most active form of vitamin D (1,25 dihydroxyvitamin D) by the enzyme 1alpha-hydroxylase in the kidneys [2].
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