Skip to main content
ARS Home » Northeast Area » Boston, Massachusetts » Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center On Aging » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #341159
Research Project: Nutrients, Aging, and Musculoskeletal Function

Location: Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center On Aging

Title: Response to Annweiler et al: estimating vitamin D status is essential for the choice of supplement dose

Author
item BISCHOFF-FERRARI, HEIKE - University Of Zurich
item ORAV, E.JOHN - Harvard University
item DAWSON-HUGHES, BESS - Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center On Aging At Tufts University

Submitted to: JAMA Internal Medicine
Publication Type: Other
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/22/2016
Publication Date: 6/1/2016
Citation: Bischoff-Ferrari, H.A., Orav, E., Dawson-Hughes, B. 2016. Response to Annweiler et al: estimating vitamin D status is essential for the choice of supplement dose. JAMA Internal Medicine. 176(6):865-866. doi:10.1001/jamainternmed.2016.1629.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: We agree that high dose monthly vitamin D is not necessarily harmful among seniors with vitamin D deficiency. However, everyone treated with 24'000 IU vitamin D per month (equivalent to 800 IU / day) achieved the replete range of above 20 ng/ml 25(OH)D, with none reaching a 25(OH)D level above 45 ng/ml. The group treated with 24'000 IU per month included 59.7% of participants with deficient 25(OH)D starting levels < 20 ng/ml and 40.3% with replete 25(OH)D starting levels >/= 20 ng/ml. Thus at starting levels throughout a wide range, 24'000 IU vitamin D per month appears to be effective in safely bringing 25(OH)D levels into what currently appears to be the desirable range for fall prevention. This does not mean that measuring 25(OH)D status is never indicated, but suggests that wide spread assessments, by serum analysis or algorithm, may not be necessary.