Cystic fibrosis often disrupts gastrointestinal function, impairing the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins such as vitamin D. As a result, individuals with cystic fibrosis are at increased risk for vitamin D deficiency. While daily supplementation is a common corrective strategy, it adds to the already significant treatment burden faced by these patients.
An alternative approach known as stoss dosing involves administering a single, very high dose of vitamin D. This method is effective because vitamin D remains active in the body for several weeks, potentially reducing the need for daily supplementation.
To evaluate the effectiveness of stoss dosing, researchers analyzed the medical records of 58 individuals with cystic fibrosis who received this treatment. Their findings showed that vitamin D levels were increased by the therapy, as measured three months after the dose administration. However, only about half of the patients reached the target vitamin D levels, suggesting that while stoss dosing is likely beneficial, further research and optimization are necessary.
Dr. Larson Ode from our division contributed to the research, which has been peer-reviewed, published in Health Science Report and is publicly available in the PubMed Central repository (link).