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CompletedNCT01930539Updated Oct 4, 2023Results posted

Treatment of Vitamin D Deficiency in Intestinal Rehabilitation Clinic Patients With a Portable Ultraviolet B Lamp

An interventional study of Ultraviolet B lamp in Vitamin D Deficiency and Short Bowel Syndrome, sponsored by University of Nebraska. Completed at 1 site in United States. Open to participants aged 19 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2023-10-04.

Sponsored by University of Nebraska · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment

Phase
Not applicable
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
11
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
19 Years and older
Sex
All
01

Study summary

This is a randomized, controlled, unblinded pilot study for patients with vitamin D deficiency in Intestinal Rehabilitation clinic. These patients are not able to absorb oral vitamin D efficiently and thus have a high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency, leading to low bone density.

The investigators will use FDA approved portable Ultraviolet B lamp for the intervention group, 11 patients will be recruited from October 2013 to end of January 2014 and study period is 12 weeks for each patient. Study completion will be end of April 2014.

Study hypothesis: Ultraviolet B light with a portable ultraviolet device will increase Total 25 hydroxy vitamin D level in Intestinal Rehabilitation Clinic patients.

Read the detailed description

Vitamin D plays an integral role in bone metabolism and is one of the principal hormonal regulators of calcium and phosphorus absorption in the body. In 2011, the Endocrine Society defined Vitamin D deficiency as a 25 hydroxy vitamin D below 20 ng/ml and vitamin D insufficiency as a 25 hydroxy vitamin D of 21 ng/ml to 29 ng/ml.Without vitamin D, only 10 to 15% of dietary calcium and about 60% of phosphorus is absorbed.

Intestinal Rehabilitation clinic at University of Nebraska Medical Center includes patients with short bowel syndrome, multiple abdominal fistulae, and altered GI motility.

Hypovitaminosis D is associated with increased parathyroid hormone secretion,increased bone turnover, osteoporosis, histological osteomalacia and increased risk of hip and other fractures, and, in its most severe expression,clinical osteomalacia. These patients have been given high doses of both oral vitamin D2 and vitamin D3 supplementation without an improvement in vitamin D status due to poor intestinal absorption . Standardized treatment of vitamin D deficiency in most healthy individuals is achieved by giving vitamin D2 50,000 IU once a week for few weeks and then daily supplementation with lower doses. In the investigators Intestinal rehabilitation clinic, these patients are vitamin D insufficient or deficient while on large replacement doses of vitamin D2/D3 with some taking 200,000 IU daily.

It has been reported that irradiation with Ultraviolet B can be used safely and effectively to treat vitamin D deficiency among vitamin D deficient patients. Exposure of the body in a bathing suit to 1 Minimum Erythemal Dose (MED) of sunlight is equivalent to ingesting about 10,000 IU to 25,000 IU of vitamin D. Thus, exposure of 6% to 10% of the body surface to 1 MED is equivalent to ingesting about 600 to 2500 IU of vitamin D. Although ultraviolet irradiation can be achieved from exposure to sunlight, it is generally available only seasonally and difficult for persons who are too ill to spend much time outdoors. Ultraviolet-Fluorescent lamp (KBD, Inc, Crescent Springs, Kentucky,USA) was designed to use ultraviolet B emitting fluorescent bulbs that have lower heat emission and allows a larger area of skin exposure. The Lamp is equipped with a timer for improved safety. This device is FDA (Food and Drug Administration) approved.

Baseline labs include 25 hydroxy D, intact parathyroid hormone and complete metabolic profile. Patients will receive a 3 minute skin exposure to Ultraviolet B light and if they do not develop a sun burn, they will be randomized to Control or Ultraviolet B light group. Patients will continue their current dose of Vitamin D2/D3 for 12 weeks in both groups.Ultraviolet B light will be administered in 3 different areas on the same day for 5 minutes each, once a week at a distance of 14 inches wearing an UV eye shield. Areas of skin exposure will be based on rule of nine for body surface area which includes back, abdomen, thighs, and arms.

Patients will get blood draws at baseline and 12 weeks to monitor response to Ultraviolet B light. If Ultraviolet B light is able to increase total 25 hydroxy vitamin D level, it can potentially be used at home by these patients after receiving basic training and instructions.

02

Conditions studied

  • Vitamin D Deficiency
  • Short Bowel Syndrome
03

In context

Short Bowel Syndrome

149 studies on the registry are indexed under Short Bowel Syndrome; 25 are open to participants now.

This study's enrollment of 11 is below the median of 20 across 100 interventional studies indexed under Short Bowel Syndrome.

Browse Short Bowel Syndrome studies →

Lead sponsor

University of Nebraska is the lead sponsor of 473 studies on the registry; 66 are open to participants now.

Of its 75 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 46 (61%) have results posted.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
19 Years and older
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

  • 25-hydroxy vitamin D level between 15ng/ml to 30mg/ml
  • Age 19 years and above
  • Patients on a stable dose of vitamin D2/D3 for last 3 months

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Hypercalcemia (Serum Calcium (calculated) more than 1 mg/dl above the upper limit of normal i.e 11.3 mg/dl)
  • Symptomatic Hypocalcemia (described as tetany )
  • History of Sarcoidosis or Granulomatous diseases
  • Patients on Calcitriol
  • Liver failure defined as bilirubin more than 3, International Normalized Ratio of more than 3, Hepatic Transaminases 3 times of upper limit of normal, Decompensated cirrhosis with signs or icterus, varices, portal hypertension, encephalopathy.
  • History of transplant or undergoing transplant evaluation
  • Planned or Elective surgery in 6 months
  • Personal or Family history of skin cancer
  • History of photosensitivity
  • Active skin disease in the areas planned for Ultraviolet B exposure
  • Medications that limit sunlight exposure (such as tetracyclines or fluoroquinolones)
  • Patients already undergoing tanning sessions
  • Patients who are planning pregnancy or are breastfeeding
  • Subjects with fair skin type I (Always burns easily, never tans)
05

Study design

Phase
Not applicable
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention model
Parallel assignment
Masking
None (open label)
Enrollment
11 participants (actual)

Study arms

  • Experimental
    Ultraviolet B lamp

    Intervention arm: Patients in the Ultraviolet B lamp group will continue vitamin D2/D3 daily and will receive 3 treatment sessions of Ultraviolet B light once a week for 12 weeks. Patients will receive Ultraviolet B light from Ultraviolet B lamp at a distance of 14 inches for duration of 5 minutes each area while wearing an Ultraviolet eye shield. Areas of skin exposure will include 3 different areas amounting to 27% of body surface area. 9% body surface area will include front of abdomen, lower back, each arm, each leg is 18%, each thigh. Ultraviolet B light sessions will be supervised and conducted by study personnel or Center for Clinical and Translational Research staff. A food questionnaire will be reviewed at each visit to assess dietary intake of calcium. Skin exam will be conducted at the beginning and end of the session.

    Device: Ultraviolet B lamp

  • No intervention
    Control

    Patients in control group will continue with their current dose of Vitamin D2/D3 for 12 weeks.Patients will remain on the same steady dose for the duration of the study.These patients will not receive Ultraviolet B light sessions.

Interventions

  • DeviceUltraviolet B lamp

    Ultraviolet-Fluorescent lamp (KBD, Inc, Crescent Springs, Kentucky, USA) was designed to use Ultraviolet B emitting fluorescent bulbs that have lower heat emission and allows a larger area of skin exposure. The Lamp is equipped with a timer for improved safety. This device is FDA (Food and Drug Administration) approved.

    Also known as: Sperti sunlamp "Del Sol"; Sperti, Crescent Springs, Kentucky

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. 25 Hydroxy Vitamin D Levels

    Our hypothesis is that Ultraviolet B light with a portable Ultraviolet device will increase Total 25 hydroxy vitamin D level in Intestinal Rehabilitation Clinic patients. We will measure serum level of 25 hydroxy vitamin D at baseline and 12 weeks to monitor the response of Ultraviolet B exposure administered by the portable Ultraviolet B lamp.

    Time frame: 12 weeks

Secondary outcomes

  1. Serum Intact Parathyroid Hormone Level

    Hypovitaminosis D is associated with increased Parathyroid hormone secretion (inversely related to 25 hydroxy D), increased bone turnover, osteoporosis, histological osteomalacia and increased risk of hip and other fractures, and, in its most severe expression,clinical osteomalacia.

    Time frame: 12 weeks

07

Results

Posted Aug 25, 2023
Limitations and caveats
The study population had variable bowel lengths impacting vitamin D absorption from oral supplements which were allowed but this did limit direct comparison of their vitamin D and parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels. Many had difficulty adhering to weekly visits leading to drop offs and small sample size.

Participant flow

Participant flow — Overall Study
MilestoneUltraviolet B LampControl
Started56
Completed34
Not completed22
Withdrew: Withdrawal by subject22

Outcome measures

Primary25 Hydroxy Vitamin D Levels

Our hypothesis is that Ultraviolet B light with a portable Ultraviolet device will increase Total 25 hydroxy vitamin D level in Intestinal Rehabilitation Clinic patients. We will measure serum level of 25 hydroxy vitamin D at baseline and 12 weeks to monitor the response of Ultraviolet B exposure administered by the portable Ultraviolet B lamp.

Time frame:
12 weeks
Reported as:
Least squares mean · ng/mL
25 Hydroxy Vitamin D Levels
ng/mLUltraviolet B LampControl
Week 1226 ± 1414 ± 3
Week 019 ± 917 ± 7
SecondarySerum Intact Parathyroid Hormone Level

Hypovitaminosis D is associated with increased Parathyroid hormone secretion (inversely related to 25 hydroxy D), increased bone turnover, osteoporosis, histological osteomalacia and increased risk of hip and other fractures, and, in its most severe expression,clinical osteomalacia.

Time frame:
12 weeks
Reported as:
Mean · pg/ml
Serum Intact Parathyroid Hormone Level
pg/mlUltraviolet B LampControl
Week 1262 ± 5970 ± 23
Week 0139 ± 3882 ± 30

Adverse events

Collected over 6 months. Non-serious events are listed at a 0% frequency threshold.

Adverse event summary by group
GroupDeathsSeriousOther
Ultraviolet B Lamp—0/3 (0%)0/3 (0%)
Control—0/4 (0%)0/4 (0%)

Baseline characteristics

Adults age 19 and above with short bowel syndrome recruited from October 2013 to May 2014

Age, Categorical
Age, Categorical(Participants)Ultraviolet B LampControlTotal
<=18 years000
Between 18 and 65 years336
>=65 years011
Age, Continuous
Age, Continuous(years)Ultraviolet B LampControlTotal
Mean37 (30 to 58)50 (37 to 72)47 (30 to 72)
Sex: Female, Male
Sex: Female, Male(Participants)Ultraviolet B LampControlTotal
Female224
Male123
Region of Enrollment
Region of Enrollment(participants)Ultraviolet B LampControlTotal
United States347
Baseline vitamin D level
Baseline vitamin D level(ng/mL)Ultraviolet B LampControlTotal
Mean19 ± 917 ± 718 ± 8
08

Study locations

1 site
  • University of Nebraska Medical Center
    Omaha, Nebraska 68198, United States
09

References and documents

Publications

  • Holick MF, Binkley NC, Bischoff-Ferrari HA, Gordon CM, Hanley DA, Heaney RP, Murad MH, Weaver CM; Endocrine Society. Evaluation, treatment, and prevention of vitamin D deficiency: an Endocrine Society clinical practice guideline. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2011 Jul;96(7):1911-30. doi: 10.1210/jc.2011-0385. Epub 2011 Jun 6. Erratum In: J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2011 Dec;96(12):3908. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2024 Sep 16;109(10):e1991. doi: 10.1210/clinem/dgae373. PubMed 21646368 ↗
  • Holick MF. Vitamin D deficiency. N Engl J Med. 2007 Jul 19;357(3):266-81. doi: 10.1056/NEJMra070553. No abstract available. PubMed 17634462 ↗
  • Rosen CJ. Clinical practice. Vitamin D insufficiency. N Engl J Med. 2011 Jan 20;364(3):248-54. doi: 10.1056/NEJMcp1009570. No abstract available. PubMed 21247315 ↗
  • DiBaise JK, Young RJ, Vanderhoof JA. Intestinal rehabilitation and the short bowel syndrome: part 1. Am J Gastroenterol. 2004 Jul;99(7):1386-95. doi: 10.1111/j.1572-0241.2004.30345.x. PubMed 15233682 ↗
  • DiBaise JK, Young RJ, Vanderhoof JA. Intestinal rehabilitation and the short bowel syndrome: part 2. Am J Gastroenterol. 2004 Sep;99(9):1823-32. doi: 10.1111/j.1572-0241.2004.40836.x. PubMed 15330926 ↗
  • Armas LA, Dowell S, Akhter M, Duthuluru S, Huerter C, Hollis BW, Lund R, Heaney RP. Ultraviolet-B radiation increases serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels: the effect of UVB dose and skin color. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2007 Oct;57(4):588-93. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2007.03.004. Epub 2007 Jul 16. PubMed 17637484 ↗
  • Dabai NS, Pramyothin P, Holick MF. The effect of ultraviolet radiation from a novel portable fluorescent lamp on serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 levels in healthy adults with Fitzpatrick skin types II and III. Photodermatol Photoimmunol Photomed. 2012 Dec;28(6):307-11. doi: 10.1111/phpp.12000. PubMed 23126292 ↗
  • Chandra P, Wolfenden LL, Ziegler TR, Tian J, Luo M, Stecenko AA, Chen TC, Holick MF, Tangpricha V. Treatment of vitamin D deficiency with UV light in patients with malabsorption syndromes: a case series. Photodermatol Photoimmunol Photomed. 2007 Oct;23(5):179-85. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0781.2007.00302.x. PubMed 17803596 ↗
  • Khazai NB, Judd SE, Jeng L, Wolfenden LL, Stecenko A, Ziegler TR, Tangpricha V. Treatment and prevention of vitamin D insufficiency in cystic fibrosis patients: comparative efficacy of ergocalciferol, cholecalciferol, and UV light. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2009 Jun;94(6):2037-43. doi: 10.1210/jc.2008-2012. Epub 2009 Mar 31. PubMed 19336509 ↗

Individual participant data

Plan to share: No

10

Updates

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Oct 4, 2023, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
11

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT01930539
Lead sponsor
University of Nebraska
Responsible party
Sponsor
First posted
Aug 29, 2013
Start date
Sep 16, 2013
Primary completion
Jun 1, 2015
Completion
Dec 1, 2015
Results posted
Aug 25, 2023
Last update
Oct 4, 2023

Study contacts

Lynn R Mack, MD
principal investigator · University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
Yes
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
Yes
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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