Ergocalciferol

Ergocalciferol
Skeletal formula of ergocalciferol
Ball-and-stick model of the ergocalciferol molecule
Clinical data
Trade namesDrisdol, Calcidol, others
Other namesvitamin D2
AHFS/Drugs.comMonograph
MedlinePlusa616042
License data
Routes of
administration		By mouth, intramuscular
ATC code
Legal status
Legal status
Identifiers
  • (3S,5Z,7E,22E)-9,10-secoergosta-5,7,10(19),22-tetraen-3-ol
CAS Number
PubChem CID
DrugBank
ChemSpider
UNII
KEGG
ChEBI
ChEMBL
CompTox Dashboard (EPA)
ECHA InfoCard100.000.014 Edit this at Wikidata
Chemical and physical data
FormulaC28H44O
Molar mass396.659 g·mol−1
3D model (JSmol)
Melting point114 to 118 °C (237 to 244 °F)
  • O[C@@H]1CC(\C(=C)CC1)=C\C=C2/CCC[C@]3([C@H]2CC[C@@H]3[C@@H](/C=C/[C@H](C)C(C)C)C)C
  • InChI=1S/C28H44O/c1-19(2)20(3)9-10-22(5)26-15-16-27-23(8-7-17-28(26,27)6)12-13-24-18-25(29)14-11-21(24)4/h9-10,12-13,19-20,22,25-27,29H,4,7-8,11,14-18H2,1-3,5-6H3/b10-9+,23-12+,24-13-/t20-,22+,25-,26+,27-,28+/m0/s1 checkY
  • Key:MECHNRXZTMCUDQ-RKHKHRCZSA-N

Ergocalciferol, also known as vitamin D2 and nonspecifically calciferol, is a type of vitamin D found in food and used as a dietary supplement.[3] As a supplement it is used to prevent and treat vitamin D deficiency.[4] This includes vitamin D deficiency due to poor absorption by the intestines or liver disease.[5] It may also be used for low blood calcium due to hypoparathyroidism.[5] It is taken by mouth or via injection into a muscle.[4][5]

Excessive doses can result in vitamin D toxicity causing increased urine production, high blood pressure, kidney stones, kidney failure, muscle weakness, and constipation.[6] If high doses are taken for a long period of time, tissue calcification may occur.[5] Normal doses are safe in pregnancy.[7] It works by increasing the amount of calcium absorbed by the intestines and reabsorbed by the kidneys.[6] Food in which it is found include some mushrooms.[8]

Ergocalciferol was first described in 1936.[9] Ergocalciferol is available as a generic medication and over the counter.[6] In 2022, it was the 38th most commonly prescribed medication in the United States, with more than 15 million prescriptions.[10][11] Certain foods such as breakfast cereal and margarine have ergocalciferol added to them in some countries.[12][13] It is on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines.[14]

  1. ^ "Summary Basis of Decision (SBD) for Rayaldee". Health Canada. 23 October 2014. Archived from the original on 31 May 2022. Retrieved 29 May 2022.
  2. ^ "Ergocalciferol Injection BP 300,000IU - Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC)". (emc). 8 July 2020. Archived from the original on 19 January 2021. Retrieved 10 June 2022.
  3. ^ Coulston AM, Boushey C, Ferruzzi M (2013). Nutrition in the Prevention and Treatment of Disease. Academic Press. p. 818. ISBN 9780123918840. Archived from the original on 30 December 2016.
  4. ^ a b British national formulary : BNF 69 (69 ed.). British Medical Association. 2015. pp. 703–704. ISBN 9780857111562.
  5. ^ a b c d World Health Organization (2009). Stuart MC, Kouimtzi M, Hill SR (eds.). WHO Model Formulary 2008. World Health Organization. p. 498. hdl:10665/44053. ISBN 9789241547659.
  6. ^ a b c "Ergocalciferol". The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists. Archived from the original on 30 December 2016. Retrieved 8 December 2016.
  7. ^ Hamilton R (2015). Tarascon Pocket Pharmacopoeia 2015 Deluxe Lab-Coat Edition. Jones & Bartlett Learning. p. 227. ISBN 9781284057560.
  8. ^ "Office of Dietary Supplements - Vitamin D". ods.od.nih.gov. 11 February 2016. Archived from the original on 31 December 2016. Retrieved 30 December 2016.
  9. ^ Fischer J, Ganellin CR (2006). Analogue-based Drug Discovery. John Wiley & Sons. p. 451. ISBN 9783527607495. Archived from the original on 30 December 2016.
  10. ^ "The Top 300 of 2022". ClinCalc. Archived from the original on 30 August 2024. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
  11. ^ "Ergocalciferol Drug Usage Statistics, United States, 2013 - 2022". ClinCalc. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
  12. ^ Feral P, Hall L (2005). Dining with Friends: The Art of North American Vegan Cuisine. Friends of Animals/Nectar Bat Press. p. 160. ISBN 9780976915904.
  13. ^ Bennett B, Sammartano R (2012). The Complete Idiot's Guide to Vegan Living (Second ed.). Penguin. p. Chapter 15. ISBN 9781615642793. Archived from the original on 30 December 2016.
  14. ^ World Health Organization (2023). The selection and use of essential medicines 2023: web annex A: World Health Organization model list of essential medicines: 23rd list (2023). Geneva: World Health Organization. hdl:10665/371090. WHO/MHP/HPS/EML/2023.02.