Vitamin D: Sunshine vs. diet vs. pills

Abstract One in five people in the UK is known to have a low serum vitamin D level (25‐hydroxy vitamin D below 25 nmol/l) according to the National Diet and Nutrition Survey. The Summer of 2015 saw publication of a draft report from the government's Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN), which proposes introduction of dietary reference values (DRVs) for all age groups (not just those considered as vulnerable). The health outcome identified as the basis for setting DRVs for vitamin D was musculoskeletal health (based on rickets, osteomalacia, falls, risk of falling and muscle strength). The data were not sufficient to establish a distribution of serum 25(OH)D concentrations or a clear threshold serum 25(OH)D concentration to support musculoskeletal health outcomes, but the evidence overall suggests that the risk of poor musculoskeletal health is increased at serum 25(OH)D concentrations below 25 nmol/l. Therefore, SACN selected a serum 25(OH)D concentration of 25 nmol/l, on a precautionary basis, as the target concentration to protect all individuals from poor musculoskeletal health. This concentration was considered to be a ‘population protective level’ (i.e. the concentration that 97.5% of individuals in the UK should be above, throughout the year, in order to protect musculoskeletal health). After establishing the health outcomes linked with low vitamin D status, the next step in estimating DRVs for vitamin D was translation of the serum 25(OH)D concent...
Source: Nutrition Bulletin - Category: Nutrition Authors: Tags: Facts Behind the Headlines Source Type: research