The Effect of Vitamin D Deficiency Treatment on Hemoglobin Levels in Hemodialysis Patients: A Double-blind, Randomized Controlled Trial

The role of vitamin D deficiency and inflammation levels in renal anemia is well established. However, few studies with inconsistent findings have examined the relationship between vitamin D supplementation and the prevalence and severity of anemia in the chronic kidney disease.

The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of vitamin D deficiency treatment on hemoglobin levels in hemodialysis patients.

The present study was a double-blind, randomized controlled trial on 60 hemodialysis patients aged 18 - 83 years, who were undergoing weekly dialysis and receiving erythropoietin. These patients with vitamin D (< 30 ng/mL) referred to the dialysis wards of Imam Khomeini, Razi, and Sina hospitals in Ahvaz in 2019 and were assigned into two groups. One group was treated with 500 mg oral calcium-D tablets three times a day, and another group was treated with 50,000 units of D-Pearls weekly. The two groups were treated for 12 weeks. Then they were re-evaluated in terms of response to treatment and the rate of improvement in hemoglobin levels and erythropoietin dose.

In each intervention group, vitamin D levels increased significantly (P < 0.001). D-Pearls improved vitamin D deficiency; however, the difference was not statistically significant. This study also showed a significant increase in hemoglobin (> 1 unit) in the Calcium-D group; however, such a change was not observed in the D-Pearls group (P = 0.3824). Moreover, there was no difference between the two groups in terms of erythropoietin consumption (P = 0.98), blood calcium level (P = 0.57), parathyroid level (P = 0.20), and phosphorus (P = 0.99).

Despite its significant limitations, this study revealed vitamin D supplements compensated for vitamin D deficiency, and Calcium-D tablets could improve hemoglobin levels in patients.