Can a Different Formulation of Vitamin D3 Allow Savings? An Analysis From an Italian Regional Perspective
Health Services Research and Managerial Epidemiology Volume 6: 1-8
Mario Sanò), Patrizia Dutto1, Stefano D’Anna1, and Carla Rognoni carla.rognoni at unibocconi.it
1) ASL CN2 Alba-Bra, Farmacia Ospedaliera e Servizio Farmaceutico Territoriale
2) Centre for Research on Health and Social Care Management (CERGAS), SDA Bocconi School of Management, Bocconi University, Milan, Italy
Vitamin D3 reported in Italy in 2017 the net expenditure of almost €180 million, reaching the first place for consumption and the third place for conventional pharmaceutical spending. The aim of the study was to evaluate whether a shift of vitamin D3 prescriptions toward 100 000 IU formulation, less costly, could allow savings from the health-care perspective. An approach promoting the prescription of this formulation has been applied in a local health authority (ASL CN2) in Piedmont Region (Italy) starting from 2015. The retail pharmaceutical market and the consumption of vitamin D3 has been analyzed from year 2014 to 2017 in order to evaluate differences in expenditures. Despite an increase in consumption, the introduction of the new formulation enabled ASL CN2 to save about €280 000 in 2017 considering the regional average expenditure per 1000 inhabitants as a reference. If Piedmont Region had presented an average expenditure in line with that of ASL CN2, the annual regional savings would have exceeded €7 million in 2017 alone. A shift of vitamin D3 prescriptions toward 100 000 IU formulations would allow reducing costs from the payer perspective. Savings may be used to contain public pharmaceutical expenditure or can be allocated to fund other health-care technologies and services.
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From PDF “In Italy, vitamin D3 expenditure is a great concern: in 2017, the net expenditure was of almost €180 million, positioning it at the first place for consumption and at the third place for conventional pharmaceutical spending.”
Thus: If Italy prescribed 100,000 IU vitamin D monthly instead of 25,000 IU of vitamin D weekly it would save about €100 million in the cost of Vitamin D
This study does not appear to mention if the monthly dose would be dispensed less often, saving additional money
This study calculates that Italy would save €100 million in cost of Vitamin D with monthly dosing
But, other studies indicate that monthly too infrequent.
50,000 IU twice a month provides more benefit, and thus more TOTAL savings
1 pill every two weeks fights all of the following
Diabetes + Heart Failure + Chronic Pain + Depression + Autism + Breast Cancer + Colon Cancer + Prostate Cancer + BPH (prostate) + Preeclampsia + Premature Birth + Falls + Cognitive Decline + Respiratory Tract Infection + Influenza + Tuberculosis + Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease + Lupus + Inflammatory Bowel Syndrome + Urinary Tract Infection + Poor Sleep + Growing Pain + Multiple Sclerosis + PMS + Schizophrenia + Endometriosis + Smoking 27 problems
Note: Once a week also fights: COVID, Headaches, Colds, Fibromyalgia, Asthma, Hives, Colitis etc.
Every 2 weeks 50,000 IU
- Treating Vitamin D deficiency in senior women – such as 50,000 IU daily for 15 days then twice a month – Review April 2019
- 50,000 IU of vitamin D every two weeks – Jordan conclusion - RCT July 2017
- Vitamin D update – 40-60 ng ideal, 50K biweekly maintenance – Jan 2014
- Insulin resistance during pregnancy improved with 50,000 IU of vitamin D every 2 weeks – RCT April 2013
- Monthly vitamin D dosing is better than daily dosing for children and elderly (more likely to be taken) – June 2017
- 79+ Randomized Clinical Trials with non-daily dosing
Note: very little difference if Vitamin D is taken every day or with 16 X a dose taken every 16 days - Sleeps disorders nicely treated by Vitamin D (50,000 IU twice a month) – RCT May 2017
- Depression probably treated by bi-weekly 50,000 IU of vitamin D - RCT 2020
- Type 2 Diabetes inflammation reduced by 50,000 IU of Vitamin D bi-weekly and resistance training – RCT – June 2019
- Schizophrenia reduced by biweekly 50,000 IU Vitamin D and probiotics – RCT Feb 2019
- Take vitamin D3 daily, weekly, or bi-weekly
- Has Notional chart for Vitamin D supplementation for levels < 30 nanograms