Fat-Soluble Vitamins
A · D · E · KWHO Xerophthalmia protocol, measles-associated dosing, and routine childhood prophylaxis under the National Vitamin A Programme.
Stoss therapy for Rickets, 60,000 IU weekly loading (Calcirol / Uprise D3), and maintenance schedules for Osteomalacia and deficiency.
Cholestatic liver disease replacement, premature infant dosing in the NICU, and Abetalipoproteinemia high-dose protocols.
Neonatal HDN prophylaxis (birth dose) and emergency Warfarin / elevated INR reversal protocols — oral vs IV dosing.
Water-Soluble Vitamins
B1 · B2 · B3 · B6 · B12 · CWernicke-Korsakoff Pabrinex protocol, Wet and Dry Beriberi treatment dosing. Critical in alcohol use disorder and prolonged IV nutrition.
Treatment of ariboflavinosis (angular stomatitis, glossitis, corneal vascularisation) and migraine prophylaxis at high-dose supplementation.
Pellagra treatment (3 Ds — Dermatitis, Diarrhoea, Dementia), nicotinamide for skin conditions, and lipid-modifying high-dose niacin protocols.
INH-induced peripheral neuropathy prophylaxis during ATT, Sideroblastic anaemia treatment, and morning sickness (NVP) in pregnancy.
Management of biotinidase deficiency, seborrheic dermatitis in infants, and support for hair, nail, and skin pathology.
Prevention of Neural Tube Defects (NTD) in pregnancy, treatment of megaloblastic anaemia, and methotrexate toxicity prophylaxis.
IM loading for Pernicious Anaemia and neurological deficits (SACD), oral maintenance for dietary deficiency — especially vegetarians.
Scurvy treatment and prevention, iron absorption enhancement, and high-dose supplementation in critical illness and wound healing.
Clinical Importance of Vitamin Supplementation in India
Micronutrient deficiencies — often termed "hidden hunger" — remain a significant public health challenge across India. From Vitamin D deficiency affecting up to 80% of urban populations to Vitamin A deficiency causing preventable blindness in rural children, accurate clinical dosing is essential for effective treatment and avoiding toxicity.
Fat-Soluble Vitamins (A, D, E, K) — Storage and Toxicity Risk
Fat-soluble vitamins are stored in the liver and fatty tissues, meaning they accumulate with repeated dosing. Hypervitaminosis A causes raised intracranial pressure and hepatotoxicity; Vitamin D toxicity produces hypercalcaemia, nephrocalcinosis, and renal stones. Dosing must be weight-based and indication-specific, particularly in children. Vitamin K has no known toxicity at therapeutic doses but requires careful selection of oral versus IV route in anticoagulant reversal.
Water-Soluble B-Complex Vitamins — Deficiency Patterns in India
B-complex deficiencies are widespread in India, particularly among vegetarians (B12), populations on Anti-Tubercular Treatment (B6 / Pyridoxine), alcoholics (B1 / Thiamine), and the malnourished (B2 / Riboflavin, B3 / Niacin). While water-soluble vitamins are generally excreted renally, high-dose Pyridoxine (>200 mg/day prolonged) causes sensory neuropathy. Thiamine deficiency progresses rapidly to irreversible Wernicke encephalopathy if not treated urgently with parenteral replacement.
Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid) — Often Overlooked
Scurvy, though considered rare, is still reported in India among infants fed exclusively boiled cow's milk, elderly institutionalised patients, and those with severely restricted diets. Vitamin C also plays a critical role in non-haem iron absorption — co-prescribing ascorbic acid with oral iron supplements significantly improves absorption in iron deficiency anaemia, a strategy recommended by both WHO and ICMR.
Why Use a Vitamin Dosage Calculator?
- Age & weight specificity: Paediatric doses for Vitamin A prophylaxis under the National Vitamin A Programme change strictly at 6-month and 12-month milestones.
- Loading vs maintenance: Vitamin D3 requires a loading phase (60,000 IU/week × 8–12 weeks) followed by a distinct maintenance dose — these are frequently confused in practice.
- Indication-based dosing: Vitamin K dosing for a routine birth prophylaxis dose differs vastly from emergency INR reversal for a patient on Warfarin with active bleeding.
- Route selection: B12 deficiency with neurological features requires IM cyanocobalamin, not oral; oral therapy alone is insufficient for SACD.
- Avoiding toxicity: Fat-soluble vitamins accumulate. The calculator helps avoid exceeding safe cumulative doses during Stoss therapy or repeated supplementation courses.
RxMedCalc's vitamin calculators are built for bedside use and verified against ICMR Dietary Reference Intakes, WHO guidelines, IAP (Indian Academy of Pediatrics) protocols, and the British National Formulary for Children (BNFC).