FOR THE TREATMENT OF SIMPLE NUTRITIONAL DEFICIENCIES COLECALCIFEROL ARE GENERALLY PREFERRED. THEY ARE USUALLY GIVEN BY MOUTH, BUT MAY ALSO BE GIVEN BY INTRAMUSCULAR INJECTION. A DOSE OF 10 MICROGRAMS (400 UNITS) DAILY IS GENERALLY SUFFICIENT IN ADULTS FOR THE PREVENTION OF SIMPLE DEFICIENCY STATES; IN THE UK, 20 MICROGRAMS (800 UNITS) DAILY IS RECOMMENDED IN SOME ETHNIC GROUPS CONSUMING UNLEAVENED BREAD, AND IN THE ELDERLY LIVING ALONE. DEFICIENCY DUE TO MALABSORPTION STATES OR LIVER DISEASE OFTEN REQUIRES HIGHER DOSES FOR TREATMENT, OF UP TO 1 MG (40 000 UNITS) DAILY. DOSES OF UP TO 2.5 MG (100 000 UNITS) DAILY MAY BE USED IN THE TREATMENT OF HYPOCALCAEMIA DUE TO HYPOPARATHYROIDISM.