Pharmacology for Dentistry

386 Section 10/ Vitamins and Trace Elements

Adverse effects include hypercalcae-
mia and hyperphosphataemia.

It is indicated in osteoporosis, hypo-
parathyroidism, hyperparathyroidism
(with bone disease), renal osteodystrophy,
nutritional and malabsorptive rickets,
hypophosphataemic vitamin D resistant
rickets and osteomalacia.

Dosage:

Adults: Initially 1 mcg daily adjusted
according to response. Elderly: Initially 0.5
mcg daily adjusted according to response.

Children: Over 20 kg: Initially 1 mcg
daily adjusted according to response.
Under 20 kg: 0.05 mcg/kg body wt. daily.

VITAMIN E

It is an antioxidant vitamin. It
presumably prevents oxidation of
coenzyme Q and inhibits generation of
peroxidation products from unsaturated
fatty acids.

Vitamin E is a family of eight com-
pounds, four tocopherols and four
tocotrienols. Tocotrienols appear to affect
a key enzyme in the liver (HMG CoA re-
ductase), which plays a key role in the syn-
thesis of cholesterol. As such tocotrienols
help maintain good cardiovascular health.
Vitamin E is an antioxidant and prevents
the oxidation of LDL (the bad cholesterol).
Vitamin E functions as anticoagulant,
which means it delays the clotting of the
blood. It can help prevent thrombosis, the
formation of blood clots in the arteries.

Deficiency symptoms: In vitamin E
deficiency in experimental animals the
manifestations are seen in several systems

including cardiovascular, reproductive and

haematopoietic.

The clinical manifestations are axonal

degeneration, gait disturbances, ophthal-

moplegia, hyporeflexia and necrotizing

myopathy.

Adverse effects include nausea,

fatigue, headache, blurred vision, diarrhoea.

It is indicated in premature infants

exposed to high concentration of oxygen,

correction of established vitamin E defi-

ciency, in patients at risk of developing

vitamin E deficiency, nocturnal muscle

cramps, intermittent claudication,

fibrocystic breast disease, coronary artery

disease and as an antioxidant.

Dosage:

Adults:

• Nocturnal muscle cramps: 400 mg daily
  for 8 to 12 weeks.


• Intermittent claudication: 400 mg daily
  for 12 to 18 weeks.


• Fibrocystic breast disease: 600 mg daily
  for 2 to 6 months.
  Children: 200 mg daily.

WATER SOLUBLE VITAMINS

VITAMIN B GROUP

Vitamin B 1 (Thiamine)

Vitamin B 1 is the first member of the B

complex.

Thiamine pyrophosphate is a coenzyme

and the active form of vitamin B 1. It func-

tions as coenzyme in decarboxylation of α-

keto acid and in hexose monophosphate

shunt.

Deficiency symptoms: In severe

vitamin B 1 deficiency beriberi develops.