title: Vitamin D supplements and 25-hydroxy vitamin D concentrations in the elderly.
abstract: Serial 25-hydroxy vitamin D (25-OHD) concentrations were measured in long-stay geriatric patients treated with vitamin D. Comparison between a treatment and a control group showed that a daily dose of 500 IU vitamin D produced a significant increase in 25-OHD levels by two months. The supplement had a striking effect when the initial 25-OHD level was low and very little effect when it was high. 25-OHD levels in subjects on 2000 IU vitamin D daily were only marginally higher than those in subjects on 500 IU. A dose of 500 IU vitamin D daily should therefore produce adequate blood 25-OHD concentrations in most old people, and probably prevent most cases of osteomalacia in the elderly--though a large-scale study is needed to confirm this.
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D006801:Humans; D006887:Hydroxycholecalciferols / Q000097:blood*; D007902:Length of Stay; D010018:Osteomalacia / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000517:prevention & control; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D006887:Hydroxycholecalciferols; D014807:Vitamin D