J Hematol

Journal of Hematology, ISSN 1927-1212 print, 1927-1220 online, Open Access

Article copyright, the authors; Journal compilation copyright, J Hematol and Elmer Press Inc

Journal website https://www.thejh.org

Original Article

Volume 10, Number 3, June 2021, pages 114-122

Comparative Effectiveness of a Six-Week Treatment Course of Vitamin D₂ and D₃ in Children With Sickle Cell Anemia in Steady State With Hypovitaminosis D: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Figure 2. Comparison of median rise in serum 25(OH)D between oral vitamin D₂ and D₃. 25(OH)D: 25-hydroxyvitamin D.

**Table 1.** Comparison of the Effects of Oral Vitamin D₂ and D₃ on Serum 25(OH)D
	Vitamin D₂	Vitamin D₃	U-value	P-value
U-value: Mann-Whitney test was used for comparison as variables were not normally distributed. IQR: interquartile range; 25(OH)D: 25-hydroxyvitamin D.
Baseline
Median (IQR)	38.87 (28.6 - 45.6)	38.27 (30.6 - 48.0)	-0.042	0.966
Range	21.18 - 73.31	18.12 - 66.90
Post intervention
Median (IQR)	53.24 (45.3 - 70.0)	54.77 (40.4 - 79.7)	0.966	0.940
Range	26.51 - 189.10	24.27 - 146.90

Table 1. Comparison of the Effects of Oral Vitamin D₂ and D₃ on Serum 25(OH)D

Vitamin D₂

Vitamin D₃

U-value

P-value

U-value: Mann-Whitney test was used for comparison as variables were not normally distributed. IQR: interquartile range; 25(OH)D: 25-hydroxyvitamin D.

Baseline

Median (IQR)

38.87 (28.6 - 45.6)

38.27 (30.6 - 48.0)

-0.042

0.966

Range

21.18 - 73.31

18.12 - 66.90

Post intervention

Median (IQR)

53.24 (45.3 - 70.0)

54.77 (40.4 - 79.7)

0.966

0.940

Range

26.51 - 189.10

24.27 - 146.90

**Table 2.** Association Between Change in Serum 25(OH)D and Sociodemographic Characteristics
	Change from baseline, median (IQR)	U-value	P-value
Kruskal-Wallis analysis was used for age groups and social class, while Mann-Whitney test was used for gender because the variables were not normally distributed. IQR: interquartile range; 25(OH)D: 25-hydroxyvitamin D.
Age group (years)		8.099	0.017
1 - 5	27.37 (9.7 - 79.4)
6 - 10	15.94 (8.7 - 33.1)
11 - 18	16.03 (1.5 - 30.2)
Gender		-0.433	0.665
Male	16.48 (7.4 - 37.7)
Female	17.05 (5.3 - 33.4)
Social class		0.547	0.761
Upper	15.63 (9.1 - 37.8)
Middle	17.69 (7.8 - 33.4)
Lower	17.10 (4.9 - 32.6)

Table 2. Association Between Change in Serum 25(OH)D and Sociodemographic Characteristics

Change from baseline, median (IQR)

U-value

P-value

Kruskal-Wallis analysis was used for age groups and social class, while Mann-Whitney test was used for gender because the variables were not normally distributed. IQR: interquartile range; 25(OH)D: 25-hydroxyvitamin D.

Age group (years)

8.099

0.017

1 - 5

27.37 (9.7 - 79.4)

6 - 10

15.94 (8.7 - 33.1)

11 - 18

16.03 (1.5 - 30.2)

Gender

-0.433

0.665

Male

16.48 (7.4 - 37.7)

Female

17.05 (5.3 - 33.4)

Social class

0.547

0.761

Upper

15.63 (9.1 - 37.8)

Middle

17.69 (7.8 - 33.4)

Lower

17.10 (4.9 - 32.6)

**Table 3.** Association Between Change in Serum 25(OH)D and Nutritional Status
	Change from baseline, median (IQR)	U-value	P-value
BMI: body mass index; IQR: interquartile range; 25(OH)D: 25-hydroxyvitamin D.
Weight for length
Wasting	12.8 (10.3)	-0.934	0.403
No wasting	27.8 (11.5 - 77.2)
Weight for age
Underweight	12.67 (11.3 - 24.2)	-0.633	0.545
Normal weight	18.81 (8.7 - 41.6)
Length/height for age
Stunting	8.61 (1.6 - 17.7)	-1.906	0.057
No stunting	17.9 (7.4 - 35.6)
BMI for age
Thinness	16.9 (8.8 - 36.4)	0.326	0.850
Normal	17.9 (9.05 - 33.5)
Overweight/obese	6.7 (2.07)

Table 3. Association Between Change in Serum 25(OH)D and Nutritional Status

Change from baseline, median (IQR)

U-value

P-value

BMI: body mass index; IQR: interquartile range; 25(OH)D: 25-hydroxyvitamin D.

Weight for length

Wasting

12.8 (10.3)

-0.934

0.403

No wasting

27.8 (11.5 - 77.2)

Weight for age

Underweight

12.67 (11.3 - 24.2)

-0.633

0.545

Normal weight

18.81 (8.7 - 41.6)

Length/height for age

Stunting

8.61 (1.6 - 17.7)

-1.906

0.057

No stunting

17.9 (7.4 - 35.6)

BMI for age

Thinness

16.9 (8.8 - 36.4)

0.326

0.850

Normal

17.9 (9.05 - 33.5)

Overweight/obese

6.7 (2.07)

**Table 4.** Classification of Subjects Based on Response to Vitamin D Therapy
Change in vitamin D status	D₂	D₃	Total	χ²	P-value
*Fisher exact test was performed because the figures were small.
From deficient	n = 56	n = 54	n = 110
To sufficient	8 (14.2)	15 (27.8)	23 (20.9)	2.56	0.11
To insufficient	24 (42.9)	11 (20.4)	35 (31.8)	7.17	0.007
Remained deficient	24 (42.9)	28 (51.9)	52 (47.3)	1.43	0.23
From insufficient	n = 9	n = 10	n = 19
To sufficient	3 (33.3)	5 (50.0)	8 (42.1)		0.65*
Remained insufficient	6 (66.7)	5 (50.0)	11 (57.9)

Table 4. Classification of Subjects Based on Response to Vitamin D Therapy

Change in vitamin D status

D₂

D₃

Total

χ²

P-value

*Fisher exact test was performed because the figures were small.

From deficient

n = 56

n = 54

n = 110

To sufficient

8 (14.2)

15 (27.8)

23 (20.9)

2.56

0.11

To insufficient

24 (42.9)

11 (20.4)

35 (31.8)

7.17

0.007

Remained deficient

24 (42.9)

28 (51.9)

52 (47.3)

1.43

0.23

From insufficient

n = 9

n = 10

n = 19

To sufficient

3 (33.3)

5 (50.0)

8 (42.1)

0.65*

Remained insufficient

6 (66.7)

5 (50.0)

11 (57.9)

**Table 5.** Comparison of Serum Calcium Levels Before and After Intervention Between the Treatment Groups
	D₂	D₃	t-value	P-value
Baseline
Mean ± SD	8.85 ± 1.2	8.86 ± 1.2	0.735	0.464
Range	6.85 - 11.17	6.76 - 11.21
Post treatment
Mean ± SD	8.95 ± 0.7	9.04 ± 0.7	-0.733	0.465
Range	7.16 - 10.05	7.19 - 11.23

Table 5. Comparison of Serum Calcium Levels Before and After Intervention Between the Treatment Groups

D₂

D₃

t-value

P-value

Baseline

Mean ± SD

8.85 ± 1.2

8.86 ± 1.2

0.735

0.464

Range

6.85 - 11.17

6.76 - 11.21

Post treatment

Mean ± SD

8.95 ± 0.7

9.04 ± 0.7

-0.733

0.465

Range

7.16 - 10.05

7.19 - 11.23

**Table 6.** Serum Alkaline Phosphatase Levels Before and After Intervention
	D₂	D₃	U-value	P-value
Mann-Whitney U test was used for analysis as variables were not normally distributed. IQR: interquartile range.
Baseline
Median (IU/L)	283.4	299.7	-0.316	0.752
IQR	246.6 - 367.9	247.9 - 343.3
Post-treatment
Median (IU/L)	228.9	228.9	-0.606	0.544
IQR	201.6 - 267.1	185.3 - 267.1

Table 6. Serum Alkaline Phosphatase Levels Before and After Intervention

D₂

D₃

U-value

P-value

Mann-Whitney U test was used for analysis as variables were not normally distributed. IQR: interquartile range.

Baseline

Median (IU/L)

283.4

299.7

-0.316

0.752

IQR

246.6 - 367.9

247.9 - 343.3

Post-treatment

Median (IU/L)

228.9

-0.606

0.544

IQR

201.6 - 267.1

185.3 - 267.1