[Vitamin D in the elderly: 5 points to remember].

Abstract

Vitamin D is a secosteroid hormone. Vitamin D receptors are present in the majority of body tissues. The manifestations of hypovitaminosis D - linked to dysfunction of target tissues - are various, including osteoporosis, cancer, tuberculosis, hypertension, multiple sclerosis, depression, dementia, sarcopenia, propensity to fall… The serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D threshold value to avoid these adverse health events is around 30 ng/mL. Only 15% of the elderly reach this target concentration. For the remaining 85% with no supplements, the severity of hypovitaminosis D appears to be a biomarker of chronic diseases and of frailty. Conversely, the supplementation for correction of hypovitaminosis D positively impacts bone and non-bone morbidities - such as risks of falls and fractures - and reduces the mortality rate. A daily intake of at least 800-1,000 IU supplemental vitamin D(3) per day is the key.

• Authors: Cédric Annweiler, Jean-Claude Souberbielle, Anne-Marie Schott, Laure de Decker, Gilles Berrut, Olivier Beauchet
• Journal: Geriatrie et psychologie neuropsychiatrie du vieillissement (Geriatr Psychol Neuropsychiatr Vieil) Vol. 9 Issue 3 Pg. 259-67 (Sep 2011) ISSN: 2115-8789 [Print] France
• Vernacular Title: Vitamine D chez la personne âgée : les 5 points à retenir.
• PMID: 21896429 (Publication Type: English Abstract, Journal Article, Review)

Chemical References

• Biomarkers
• Vitamin D

Topics

• Aged
• Aged, 80 and over
• Biomarkers
• Dietary Supplements
• Humans
• Nutrition Policy
• Nutritional Requirements
• Reference Values
• Vitamin D (adverse effects, blood, metabolism)
• Vitamin D Deficiency (physiopathology)