Effects of vitamin D supplementation on strength, physical performance, and falls in older persons: a systematic review.
Latham NK, Anderson CS, Reid IR.
J Am Geriatr Soc. 2003 Sep;51(9):1219-26. Review.
PMID: 12919233
DOI: 10.1046/j.1532-5415.2003.51405.
Conclusion: Although there is insufficient evidence that vitamin D supplementation alone improves physical performance in older people, some data suggest a benefit from vitamin D combined with calcium supplementation, but this requires confirmation in large, well-designed trials.
Effectiveness and safety of vitamin D in relation to bone health.
Cranney A, Horsley T, O'Donnell S, Weiler H, Puil L, Ooi D, Atkinson S, Ward L, Moher D, Hanley D, Fang M, Yazdi F, Garritty C, Sampson M, Barrowman N, Tsertsvadze A, Mamaladze V.
Evid Rep Technol Assess (Full Rep). 2007 Aug;(158):1-235. Review.
PMID: 18088161
"In 1995 my son received the devastating diagnosis of MS. Having been a research scientist for 30 years, I decided to plunge into the scientific literature for MS to determine the most likely factors which cause MS and to use this information to develop an effective therapy for my son.
Notably, many people are having great success in halting or greatly slowing MS with nutritional strategies; many Testimonials are available. I am most pleased to report that my son remains in excellent health with no MS symptoms.
I discovered abundant scientific evidence that indicates that various nutritional factors potentially play major roles in the onset and progression of MS. Strangely, this information was not being made available to persons with MS by doctors nor by established MS charities."
Professor Departments of Nutritional Sciences, Laboratory Medicine, and Pathobiology, Bone and Mineral Laboratory, Pathology and Laboratory Medicine,
University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada M5S 3E2
Mount Sinai Hospital, 600 University Avenue, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Safety of vitamin D3 in adults with multiple sclerosis.
Kimball SM, Ursell MR, O'Connor P, Vieth R.
Am J Clin Nutr. 2007 Sep;86(3):645-51.
PMID: 17823429
Conclusions: Patients' serum 25(OH)D concentrations reached twice the top of the physiologic range without eliciting hypercalcemia or hypercalciuria. The data support the feasibility of pharmacologic doses of vitamin D3 for clinical research, and they provide objective evidence that vitamin D intake beyond the current upper limit is safe by a large margin.
Urgent action needed to improve vitamin D status among older people in England!
Hirani V, Tull K, Ali A, Mindell J.
Age Ageing. 2009 Nov 23. [Epub ahead of print]
PMID: 19934073
CONCLUSIONS: poor vitamin D status of older people continues to be a public health problem in England. Hypovitaminosis D is associated with many risk factors and poor health outcomes. There is now an urgent need for a uniform policy on assessment and dietary supplementation of vitamin D in older people to prevent poor vitamin D status and its negative consequences
The vitamin D-antimicrobial peptide pathway and its role in protection against infection.
Gombart AF.
Future Microbiol. 2009 Nov;4:1151-65.
PMID: 19895218
doi:10.2217/fmb.09.87
Serum 25-Hydroxyvitamin D Levels Among US Children Aged 1 to 11 Years: Do Children Need More Vitamin D?
Mansbach JM, Ginde AA, Camargo CA Jr.
Pediatrics. 2009 Nov;124(5):1404-1410.
PMID: 19951983
CONCLUSIONS: On the basis of a nationally representative sample of US children aged 1 to 11 years, millions of children may have suboptimal levels of 25(OH)D, especially non-Hispanic black and Hispanic children. More data in children are needed not only to understand better the health implications of specific serum levels of 25(OH)D but also to determine the appropriate vitamin D supplement requirements for children.
Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D status of the US population: 1988-1994 compared with 2000-2004.
Looker AC, Pfeiffer CM, Lacher DA, Schleicher RL, Picciano MF, Yetley EA.
Am J Clin Nutr. 2008 Dec;88(6):1519-27.
PMID: 19064511
doi:10.3945/ajcn.2008.26182
Conclusions: Overall, mean serum 25(OH)D was lower in 2000-2004 than 1988-1994. Assay changes unrelated to changes in vitamin D status accounted for much of the difference in most population groups. In an adult subgroup, combined changes in BMI, milk intake, and sun protection appeared to contribute to a real decline in vitamin D status.
In summary, age-standardized mean serum 25(OH)D concentrations based on observed values were significantly lower in 2000-2004 than in 1988-1994 in all groups examined. Adjustment for assay changes noticeably reduced the difference between surveys. However, mean serum 25(OH)D concentrations remained significantly lower in males (except Mexican Americans) in NHANES 2000-2004 than in NHANES III, even after adjustment for assay differences. This remaining difference likely represents a real decline in vitamin D status. Changes in BMI, milk intake, and sun protection appeared to contribute to this decline in a subgroup of non-Hispanic white adults. The possibility that trends in overweight, sun protection, and milk intake may continue supports the need to continue monitoring the serum 25(OH)D status of the population
A vitamin D nutritional cornucopia: new insights concerning the serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D status of the US population.
Norman AW.
Am J Clin Nutr. 2008 Dec;88(6):1455-6.
PMID: 19064502
doi:10.3945/ajcn.2008.27049
In summary, the report of Looker et al should be required reading for all nutritionists, clinicians, and vitamin D aficionados who are decision makers with regard to 25(OH)D assays, vitamin D nutritional policy, and the care of patients with vitamin D-related diseases.
Low serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations are associated with greater all-cause mortality in older community-dwelling women.
Semba RD, Houston DK, Ferrucci L, Cappola AR, Sun K, Guralnik JM, Fried LP.
Nutr Res. 2009 Aug;29(8):525-30.
PMID: 19761886
doi:10.1016/j.nutres.2009.07.007
Older community-dwelling women with low 25(OH)D levels are at an increased risk of death.
Is a lower dose of vitamin D supplementation enough to increase 25(OH)D status in a sunny country?
Pignotti GA, Genaro PS, Pinheiro MM, Szejnfeld VL, Martini LA.
Eur J Nutr. 2009 Nov 28. [Epub ahead of print]
PMID: 19946776
CONCLUSION: The dose given (400 IU/day) was not enough to achieve 25(OH)D concentration, considered optimal for bone health.
Vitamin D replacement in Asians with diabetes may increase insulin resistance.
Taylor AV, Wise PH.
Postgrad Med J. 1998 Jun;74(872):365-6.
PMID: 9799895
We report three cases of vitamin D replacement in British Asians with vitamin D deficiency and non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. In all cases, replacement resulted in an increase in insulin resistance and a deterioration of glycaemic control