Abstract
Summary
On September 29, 2011, acknowledged experts in the field of vitamin D, mainly European, were brought together in order to discuss the recent scientific advances in relation to vitamin D: the current requirements and associations with various health outcomes. In this article, the discussions resulting from the meeting are summarized.
Introduction
Several groups at risk for develo** vitamin D insufficiency have been identified. Accordingly, reviews indicate that a significant percentage of the population worldwide have serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels below 50 nmol/l. In addition to the role of vitamin D in bone health, recent studies suggest that it may play a pivotal role in other systems, e.g., the cardiovascular system, pancreas, muscle, immune system and brain. Most evidence, however, is obtained from observational studies and yet inconclusive.
Methods
To exchange and broaden knowledge on the requirements for vitamin D and its effect on various health outcomes, a workshop entitled “Vitamin D Expert Meeting: Do we get enough?”, was organized.
Results
Despite low vitamin D levels worldwide, consensus on the definition of deficiency is not yet reached. In order to define cut-off points for vitamin D whilst taking into account extraskeletal health effects, randomized controlled trials in these fields are warranted. The experts do emphasize that there is evidence to suggest an important role for vitamin D in the maintenance of optimal bone health at all ages and that vitamin D supplementation, in most studies co-administered with calcium, reduces fracture risk in the senior population.
Conclusion
To reach a serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D level of 50 nmol/l older adults aged ≥65 years are therefore recommended to meet a mean daily vitamin D intake of 20 μg (800 IU), which is best achieved with a supplement.
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Acknowledgments
Dr Llewellyn is supported by the UK National Institute for Health Research (NIHR)-funded Peninsula Collaboration for Leadership in Applied Health Research and Care. The views expressed in this publication are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the National Health Service (NHS), the NIHR or the Department of Health. This work is also supported by grants to Dr Llewellyn from the Alzheimer's Association (NIRG-11-200737), the James Tudor Foundation, the Sir Halley Stewart Trust, the Norman Family Charitable Trust, Lord Clinton's Charitable Trust, the Royal Devon & Exeter Foundation Trust, the Peninsula Medical School Foundation and the Age Related Diseases and Health Trust. Brouwer-Brolsma is financially supported by Graduate School VLAG.
Attendees
Elske M Brouwer-Brolsma (Minutes secretary), Wageningen University, the Netherlands; Heike Annette Bischoff-Ferrari (Speaker), UniversitätsSpital Zurich, Switzerland; Roger Bouillon (Chair), Katholieke Universiteit Leuven; Edith JM Feskens (Chair), Wageningen University, the Netherlands; Chris J Gallagher (Speaker), Division of Endocrinology Creighton, United States of America; Elina Hypponen (Speaker), Institute of Child Health, United Kingdom; David J Llewellyn (Speaker), Institute of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences Peninsula College of Medicine and Dentistry University of Exeter Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital Barrack Road Exeter, United Kingdom; Elisabeth Stoecklin (Speaker), DSM Nutritional Products, Switserland; Susan Lanham-New (Speaker), University of Surrey, United Kingdom; Jutta Dierkes, University of Bergen, Norway; Arie K Kies, DSM Biotechnology Center, the Netherlands; Frans J Kok, Wageningen University, the Netherlands; Christel Lamberg-Allardt, University of Helsinki, Finland; Ulrich Moser, Switzerland; Henk van den Berg, the Netherlands; Stefan Pilz, Medical University of Graz, Austria; Wim H Saris, DSM Nutritional Products, the Netherlands; Natasja M van Schoor, VU University Medical Center, the Netherlands; Peter Weber, DSM Nutritional Products, Switzerland; Renger Witkamp, Wageningen University, the Netherlands; Armin Zittermann, Ruhr University Bochum, Germany; Lisette CPGM de Groot (Speaker), Wageningen University, the Netherlands.
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Brouwer-Brolsma, E.M., Bischoff-Ferrari, H.A., Bouillon, R. et al. Vitamin D: do we get enough? . Osteoporos Int 24, 1567–1577 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00198-012-2231-3
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00198-012-2231-3