Endocrine Abstracts

There is limited data on vitamin D status in patients with learning disabilities. As a group they possess multiple risk factors for vitamin D deficiency including limited access to sunlight, problems with mobility and anticonvulsant use. We reviewed the data for 105 patients with learning disabilities grouped according to the severity of learning disability (profound, severe, moderate, and mild). Data was available on vitamin D and calcium levels, dose of vitamin D3 needed to correct the vitamin D deficiency with the aim of correcting above a minimum target level of 80 nmol/l or 32 μg/l. There was a very weak negative correlation between baseline 25-vitamin D levels and the degree of learning disability (r=−0.14). There was no significant difference between the four groups before treatment, however there was a clear trend of higher vitamin D levels with a significantly higher post treatment vitamin D level in the profound learning disability group compared to those mild deficiency. The average dose of vitamin D3 needed to increase the vitamin D level above 80 nmol/l was 1945 units daily. Our data shows that in a group of patients with significant risk factors of vitamin D deficiency, the average dose of vitamin D needed to correct deficiency was on average a modest dose given the need for anticonvulsants. Indeed the response to treatment was greatest in the group who had the most profound disability.