Short Term, High Dose Vitamin D Supplementation for COVID-19 (SHADE)
![]() |
The safety and scientific validity of this study is the responsibility of the study sponsor and investigators. Listing a study does not mean it has been evaluated by the U.S. Federal Government. Read our disclaimer for details. |
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04459247 |
Recruitment Status :
Active, not recruiting
First Posted : July 7, 2020
Last Update Posted : August 27, 2020
|
- Study Details
- Tabular View
- No Results Posted
- Disclaimer
- How to Read a Study Record
Coronavirus-2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome-associated coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) has affected the lives of millions of individuals globally and severely strained the medical community. Pre-symptomatic and asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 positive individuals far outnumber the symptomatic ones or those with severe disease. The transmission potential of SARS CoV-2 is potentially greator than earlier viral outbreaks of SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV. Identification of asymptomatic carriers of SARS-CoV-2 infection is paramount to contain viral infection because of high transmission potential Routine measures of social distancing, personal hand hygiene and limited outdoor contact activities have shown benefits to limit corona virus infection. However, the role of vitamin D in SARS-CoV-2 infection is not explored despite the knowledge of an immunomodulatory role and protective effect of vitamin D against viral infections. It has been found that mortality from COVID-19 is more in countries with vitamin D deficiency.
The role of therapeutic vitamin D supplementation in asymptomatic individuals with vitamin-D deficiency and COVID-19 is not known. Immune-modulatory effect of vitamin D is likely to be observed at 25(OH)D levels which are considered higher than that required for normal bone metabolism.An earlier SARS-CoV-2 negativity may have significant public health benefits in limiting the spread of the disease. Therefore, we hypothesise that high dose vitamin D supplementation in patients with COVID-19 and vitamin D deficiency may lead to SARS-CoV-2 negativity in greater proportions of patients associated with decrease in serological markers of inflammation.
Condition or disease | Intervention/treatment | Phase |
---|---|---|
COVID | Drug: Vit D | Not Applicable |
The role of therapeutic vitamin D supplementation in asymptomatic individuals with vitamin-D deficiency and COVID-19 is not known. Immune-modulatory effect of vitamin D is likely to be observed at 25(OH)D levels which are considered higher than that required for normal bone metabolism.[6] An earlier SARS-CoV-2 negativity may have significant public health benefits in limiting the spread of the disease. Therefore, we hypothesise that high dose vitamin D supplementation in patients with COVID-19 and vitamin D deficiency may lead to SARS-CoV-2 negativity in greater proportions of patients associated with decrease in serological markers of inflammation.
Methods: Consecutive individuals with SARS-CoV-2 infection who were mildly symptomatic or asymptomatic with or without co-morbidities (hypertension, diabetes mellitus, chronic obstructive airway disease, chronic liver disease) admitted to tertiary care hospital in north India were invited for the study. A written consent was obtained from all patients included in the study and protocol was approved by the Institute Ethics Committee.
Patients with vitamin D deficiency defined as 25 (OH)D level<20 ng/ml were randomized to receive daily 60,000IU of cholecalciferol (5 ml oral solution in nano droplet form) for seven days in the "intervention arm" or to receive a single dose of 60,000 IU vitamin D supplementation at admission in the "control arm". Patients unable to take oral supplementation like those requiring invasive ventilation were excluded. Subsequently, 25(OH)D levels were assessed at day 7 and a weekly supplementation of 60,000IU provided to those with 25(OH)D >50 ng/ml or continued on daily vitamin D 60,000 IU supplementation for another seven days in participants with 25 (OH)D<50ng/ml (day-14) in the intervention arm. No vitamin D supplementation was provided in the control arm other than the initial dose at hospital admission.
25 (OH)D, serum calcium, phosphorus, fibrinogen , d-dimer, C-reactive protein, procalcitonin, renal and liver function tests were performed periodically up till day-21 or virus negativity, whichever occurred earlier. Oro-pharyngeal swabs were obtained for SARS-CoV-2 RNA detection at day-5, 7, 10, 14, 18 and 21 and detection was performed by real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), CFX-96 IVD, Bio-Rad. 25 (OH)D was analysed by electrochemiluminescence immunoassay (ECLIA) (Roche Cobas E 801 Analyzer; Roche Diagnostics), using the kit supplied by the same manufacturer (Elecsys Total Vitamin D, version 2.0). Serum calcium (N, 8.5-10.2 mg/dl) and C-reactive protein (N, 0-5 mg/l) were processed by ECLIA method using Roche Cobas 8000, Roche Diagnostics. D dimer (N, 0-240 ng/ml) & fibrinogen (N, 2-4g/l) were analyzed using Stago Compact/ Stago STA R model, Diagnostica Stago, Inc, USA respectively.
Study Type : | Interventional (Clinical Trial) |
Estimated Enrollment : | 30 participants |
Allocation: | Randomized |
Intervention Model: | Parallel Assignment |
Masking: | Double (Participant, Care Provider) |
Primary Purpose: | Treatment |
Official Title: | Short Term, High Dose Vitamin D Supplementation for COVID-19 Disease: Double Blind, Controlled, Study |
Actual Study Start Date : | June 15, 2020 |
Estimated Primary Completion Date : | August 30, 2020 |
Estimated Study Completion Date : | September 10, 2020 |

Arm | Intervention/treatment |
---|---|
Experimental: Intervention
Vitamin D high dose
|
Drug: Vit D
Oral liquid formulation of 60000 IU |
No Intervention: Control arm
No Vitamin D supplementation
|
- Virus negativity [ Time Frame: 21 days ]SARS-CoV-2 RNA negative
- Inflammatory Marker [ Time Frame: 21 days ]Change in fibrinogenLevels
- Inflammatory Marker 2 [ Time Frame: 21 days ]Change in D-Dimer Levels

Choosing to participate in a study is an important personal decision. Talk with your doctor and family members or friends about deciding to join a study. To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contacts provided below. For general information, Learn About Clinical Studies.
Ages Eligible for Study: | 18 Years and older (Adult, Older Adult) |
Sexes Eligible for Study: | All |
Accepts Healthy Volunteers: | No |
Inclusion Criteria:
- SARS-CoV-2 RNA positive Asymptomatic individuals
Exclusion Criteria:
- Uncontrolled Diabetes Uncontrolled Hypertension Chronic Liver Disease Chronic obstructive Pulmonary disease Requiring Invasive Ventilation

To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contact information provided by the sponsor.
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier (NCT number): NCT04459247
India | |
Deptt of Endocrinology | |
Chandigarh, India, 160012 |
Responsible Party: | Ashu Rastogi, Assistant Professor, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research |
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: | NCT04459247 |
Other Study ID Numbers: |
121/20 |
First Posted: | July 7, 2020 Key Record Dates |
Last Update Posted: | August 27, 2020 |
Last Verified: | August 2020 |
Individual Participant Data (IPD) Sharing Statement: | |
Plan to Share IPD: | No |
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Drug Product: | No |
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Device Product: | No |