ARS | Publication request: Vitamin D supplementation and fracture risk

Submitted to: Archives of Internal Medicine
Publication Type: Other
Publication Acceptance Date: February 1, 2011
Publication Date: February 14, 2011
Citation: Bischoff-Ferrari, H., Dawson-Hughes, B., Whiting, S. 2011. Vitamin D supplementation and fracture risk. Archives of Internal Medicine. 171(3):265-266.

Technical Abstract: This letter is written in response to an editorial by Gray and Bolland stating incorrectly that vitamin D does not reduce fracture risk and that safety of vitamin D has not been demonstrated. We and others have demonstrated that vitamin D is effective in lowering risk of fractures when given in adequate amounts. Doses of 400 IU per day and less are consistently ineffective in lowered fracture risk, whereas does of 700 IU per day and higher have consistently lowered fracture rates by an average of 20%. With regard to safety, the Institute of Medicine recently reviewed available evidence and concluded that doses up to 4000 IU per day are safe. They recommended that 250HD levels not exceed 125 nmo/L, a level well above that needed to optimize bone health.