| Background: Transient hypocalcemia due to parathyroid gland or vessel manipulation is a common complication following
thyroidectomy. Considering the role of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) in calcium hemostasis, this study aimed to evaluate
the effect of preoperative vitamin D supplementation on hypocalcemia incidence in thyroidectomy patients.
Methods: In this randomized clinical trial, 100 patients scheduled for total thyroidectomy and suffering from preoperative
moderate or severe vitamin D deficiency were enrolled. Patients were randomly allocated to either study or control groups
using the sealed envelope method. Patients in the study group received vitamin D3 50,000-unit pearl weekly for 4 weeks prior
to the operation. The control group received placebo. Total and ionized serum calcium levels were checked before surgery,
the day after surgery, and 2 weeks postoperatively.
Results: No significant difference was observed in terms of demographic data. During serial total calcium checks (5 episodes),
total calcium levels changed significantly in patients who had received vitamin D supplements compared to the control
group (P = 0.043). Symptomatic hypocalcemia incidence was significantly lower in patients supplemented with 25-hydroxyvitamin
D (25(OH)D) (P = 0.04). Also, the requirement for intravenous calcium administration in order to treat the hypocalcemia
symptoms was significantly lower in the study in comparison to the control group (P = 0.03).
Conclusions: Vitamin D supplementation in patients with vitamin D deficiency might lead to a lower incidence of early-onset
symptomatic hypocalcemia; hence, requiring less calcium supplementation for the management of hypocalcemia |