VITAMIN-D SUPPLEMENTATION IN THE ELDERLY - REVIEW OF SAFETY AND EFFECTIVENESS OF DIFFERENT REGIMES

Vitamin D deficiency is common in the elderly, especially in countries where effective sunlight or exposure to sunlight is limited. Two regi mes for vitamin D supplementation-low-dose daily oral administration a nd intermittent high-dose administration-were examined with regard to safety and effectiveness. Eleven papers reporting studies in 449 elder ly subjects were reviewed. On low-dose continuous supplementation mean concentration of 25 hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) ranged from 57 to 105 nmol/L compared to 55 to 87 nmol/L following high-dose supplementation . These mean values fall within the physiological range for young adul ts. Hypercalcemia occurred in only 3 subjects and was associated with a predisposing cause in 2 of 3 subjects. We suggest that low dose cont inuous supplementation (10 to 20 mu g daily) is the regime of choice b ut high-dose intermittent supplementation (2.5 mg six monthly) may be suitable where compliance is poor.