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Table 7-1

Therapy for Common Vitamin and Mineral Deficiencies

NutrientTherapy
Vitamin Aa,b,c60 mg PO, repeated 1 and 14 days later if ocular changes; 30 mg for ages 6-11 months
15 mg PO qd × 1 month if chronic malabsorption
Vitamin C200 mg PO qd
Vitamin Da,d

Encourage sun exposure if possible

50,000 units PO once weekly for 4-8 weeks, then 400-800 units PO qd

Substantially higher dose may be required in chronic malabsorption
Folic acid

0.4 mg PO qd prenatally and during pregnancy

Confirm normal B12 levels in pts with megaloblastic anemia

Vitamin B121000 µg IM x 6 doses to replenish stores, then 1000 µg IM monthly
Vitamin Ea800-1200 mg PO qd
Vitamin Ka10 mg IV × 1
1-2 mg PO qd or 1-2 mg IV weekly in chronic malabsorption
Thiamineb300 mg IV qd × 3 days, followed by 10 mg PO qd until recovery
Niacin100-200 mg PO tid for 5 days
Pyridoxine50 mg PO qd, 100-200 mg PO qd if deficiency related to medications
Zincb,c60 mg PO bid

aAssociated with fat malabsorption.

bAssociated with chronic alcoholism; always replete thiamine before carbohydrates in alcoholics to avoid precipitation of acute thiamine deficiency.

cAssociated with protein-calorie malnutrition.

dTherapy must be monitored by serum calcium measurements.