Differences in vitamin D status between countries in young adults and the elderly.
OBJECTIVE
To compare vitamin D status between countries in young adults and in the elderly.


METHODS
Reports on vitamin D status (as assessed by serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D) from 1971 to 1990 were reviewed. Studies were grouped according to geographic regions: North America (including Canada and the United States); Scandinavia (including Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden); and Central and Western Europe (including Belgium, France, Germany, Ireland, The Netherlands, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom).


RESULTS
Vitamin D status varies with the season in young adults and in the elderly, and is lower during the winter in Europe than in both North America and Scandinavia. Oral vitamin D intake is lower in Europe than in both North America and Scandinavia. Hypovitaminosis D and related abnormalities in bone chemistry are most common in elderly residents in Europe but are reported in all elderly populations.


CONCLUSIONS
The vitamin D status in young adults and the elderly varies widely with the country of residence. Adequate exposure to summer sunlight is the essential means to ample supply, but oral intake augmented by both fortification and supplementation is necessary to maintain baseline stores. All countries should adopt a fortification policy. It seems likely that the elderly would benefit additionally from a daily supplement of 10 micrograms of vitamin D.
McKenna
M J
MJ
Department of Endocrinology and Diabetes, St. Vincent's Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000378:metabolism*; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000097:blood; D001208:Asia / Q000453:epidemiology; D001847:Bone Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D005060:Europe / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006887:Hydroxycholecalciferols / Q000097:blood; D007326:Institutionalization; D008297:Male; D015201:Meta-Analysis as Topic; D009656:North America / Q000453:epidemiology; D009752:Nutritional Status; D015995:Prevalence; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012621:Seasons; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood*; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology
D006887:Hydroxycholecalciferols; D014807:Vitamin D; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase