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The role of vitamin D for bone health and fracture prevention

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Abstract

Vitamin D inadequacy is pandemic in adults. Vitamin D deficiency causes osteopenia, precipitates and exacerbates osteoporosis, causes the painful bone disease osteomalacia, and increases muscle weakness, which worsens the risk of falls and fractures. Vitamin D deficiency can be prevented by sensible sun exposure and adequate supplementation. Monitoring serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D is the only way to determine vitamin D status. Recent recommendations suggest that in the absence of sun exposure, adults should ingest 1000 IU of vitamin D3 per day. The ideal healthy blood level of 25-hydroxyvitamin D should be 30 to 60 ng/mL. Vitamin D intoxication occurs when 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels are greater than 150 ng/mL. Three recent reports suggesting that vitamin D and calcium supplementation does not decrease the risk of fracture will be put into perspective in light of the vast literature supporting increasing vitamin D and calcium intake as an effective method for decreasing risk of vertebral and nonvertebral fractures.

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  1. Boston University School of Medicine, 715 Albany Street, M-1013, 02118, Boston, MA, USA

    Michael F. Holick PhD, MD

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  1. Michael F. Holick PhD, MD
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Correspondence to Michael F. Holick PhD, MD.

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Holick, M.F. The role of vitamin D for bone health and fracture prevention. Curr Osteoporos Rep 4, 96–102 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11914-996-0028-z

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