Vitamin D deficiency: a worldwide problem with health consequences
Top Cited Papers
Open Access
- 1 April 2008
- journal article
- review article
- Published by Elsevier BV in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
- Vol. 87 (4), 1080S-1086S
- https://doi.org/10.1093/ajcn/87.4.1080s
Abstract
Vitamin D deficiency is now recognized as a pandemic. The major cause of vitamin D deficiency is the lack of appreciation that sun exposure in moderation is the major source of vitamin D for most humans. Very few foods naturally contain vitamin D, and foods that are fortified with vitamin D are often inadequate to satisfy either a child's or an adult's vitamin D requirement. Vitamin D deficiency causes rickets in children and will precipitate and exacerbate osteopenia, osteoporosis, and fractures in adults. Vitamin D deficiency has been associated with increased risk of common cancers, autoimmune diseases, hypertension, and infectious diseases. A circulating level of 25-hydroxyvitamin D of >75 nmol/L, or 30 ng/mL, is required to maximize vitamin D's beneficial effects for health. In the absence of adequate sun exposure, at least 800–1000 IU vitamin D3/d may be needed to achieve this in children and adults. Vitamin D2 may be equally effective for maintaining circulating concentrations of 25-hydroxyvitamin D when given in physiologic concentrations.Keywords
This publication has 84 references indexed in Scilit:
- Vitamin D2 Is as Effective as Vitamin D3 in Maintaining Circulating Concentrations of 25-Hydroxyvitamin DJournal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, 2008
- Vitamin D DeficiencyThe New England Journal of Medicine, 2007
- PHOSPHORUS METABOLISM AND MANAGEMENT IN CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE: Expanding Role for Vitamin D in Chronic Kidney Disease: Importance of Blood 25‐OH‐D Levels and Extra‐Renal 1α‐Hydroxylase in the Classical and Nonclassical Actions of 1α,25‐Dihydroxyvitamin D3Seminars in Dialysis, 2007
- Factors that influence the cutaneous synthesis and dietary sources of vitamin DArchives of Biochemistry and Biophysics, 2007
- Resurrection of vitamin D deficiency and ricketsJCI Insight, 2006
- Steroid and xenobiotic receptor and vitamin D receptor crosstalk mediates CYP24 expression and drug-induced osteomalaciaJCI Insight, 2006
- The vitamin D questions: How much do you need and how should you get it?Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 2006
- Vitamin D and prevention of colorectal cancerThe Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 2005
- Noncalcemic Actions of Vitamin D Receptor LigandsEndocrine Reviews, 2005
- Estimates of optimal vitamin D statusOsteoporosis International, 2005