Vitamin D for the older patient: from hype to hope?

Purpose of review The review critically appraises the most recent and important meta-analyses that have assessed the effect of vitamin D supplementation on bone health in the older population. Recent findings Vitamin D status is generally lower in study participants with bone wasting. However, studies on the effects of vitamin D supplementation on bone health, summarized in different meta-analyses, have provided conflicting results, likely because of the heterogeneity between studies. Interventional studies performed using more physiological doses of vitamin D (i.e. avoiding very large, nonphysiological doses) or in study participants with low vitamin D status have provided more beneficial effects on bone health. Summary Meta-analyses assessing the impact of vitamin D in the treatment of osteoporosis are heterogeneous in their conception or their results and sometimes have included inappropriate studies to answer the useful research question for the clinician, making the interpretation and the clinical use of these conflicting meta-analyses quite difficult.
Source: Current Opinion in Clinical Nutrition and Metabolic Care - Category: Nutrition Tags: AGEING: BIOLOGY AND NUTRITION: Edited by Jürgen M. Bauer and John E. Morley Source Type: research