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Vitamin D

Evaluation, treatment, and prevention of vitamin D deficiency

JR

The Endocrine Society has published guidelines.

First, the details.

  • The Task Force was composed of a Chair, 6 additional experts, and a methodologist.
  • Consensus was guided by systematic reviews of evidence and discussions during several conference calls and e-mail communications.

And, the results.

  • Vitamin D deficiency is common in all age groups, and few foods contain vitamin D.
  • Suggested daily intake and tolerable upper limits depend on age and clinical circumstances.
  • Measuring 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels using a reliable assay is the initial diagnostic test for patients at risk for deficiency.
  • There is insufficient evidence to recommend screening people who are not at risk for deficiency or to prescribe vitamin D to attain the normal calcium levels for cardiovascular protection.
  • Tolerable upper limits of vitamin D, which “should not be exceeded without medical supervision,” include:
    • 1000 IU/day: Infants aged up to 6 months
    • 1500 IU/day: Infants aged 6 months to 1 year old
    • 2500 IU/day: Children aged 1 to 3 years
    • 3000 IU/day; Children aged 4 to 8 years
    • 4000 IU/day: Everyone older than 8 years

The bottom line?

Medscape has a detailed summary of the recommendations, here.

6/9/11 20:83 JR

Hi, I’m JR

John Russo, Jr., PharmD, is president of The MedCom Resource, Inc. Previously, he was senior vice president of medical communications at www.Vicus.com, a complementary and alternative medicine website.

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