Immune Mechanisms of Vitamin D to Reduce Chronic Pain After Burn

Inclusion Criteria

• ≥ 18 years and ≤ 70 years of age

• MThBI severe enough to warrant admission to Burn Surgery Service (NOTE: surgery may or may not be indicated)

• Admission and subsequent enrollment occurs within 1 week of MThBI

• Patients experience a thermal burn injury, not an electrical or chemical burn.

• Has a smartphone with continuous service >1 year

• Alert and oriented

• Willing to take study medication (6 capsules of Vitamin D or placebo)

• Point of care Vitamin D level <100 ng/mL

• Able to speak and read English

• Burn survivors with acute pain severity ≥ 7/10 on the Numeric Rating Scale (initial pain severity reported by patient on screening)

• Total Body surface area burned <30%

Exclusion Criteria

• Substantial comorbid injury (e.g. long bone fracture)

• Pregnancy/Breastfeeding

• Prisoner status

• Active psychosis, suicidal ideation, or homicidal ideation

• Requires an emergency/bedside escharotomy or fasciotomy for the treatment of burn injury.

• Known Child-Pugh liver disease severity classification B or C.

• Known chronic kidney disease stage 4 or higher (GFR≤29).

• No other history or condition that would, in the investigator's judgment, indicate that the patient would very likely be non-compliant with the study or unsuitable for the study (e.g. might interfere with the study, confound interpretation, or endanger patient).

• Intubated and sedated at time of enrollment.

• Hypersensitivity to Vitamin D3, ergocalciferol, calcitriol, alfacalcidol, calcipotriol

• Known hypercalcemia (based on routine admission laboratory assessment).

• Sarcoidosis

• Hyperphosphatemia (based on routine admission laboratory assessment)

• Taking Vitamin D supplements in excess of 800 IU daily.