title: Vitamin D supplementation in the elderly: review of safety and effectiveness of different regimes.
abstract: Vitamin D deficiency is common in the elderly, especially in countries where effective sunlight or exposure to sunlight is limited. Two regimes for vitamin D supplementation--low-dose daily oral administration and intermittent high-dose administration--were examined with regard to safety and effectiveness. Eleven papers reporting studies in 449 elderly 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 adults. Hypercalcemia occurred in only 3 subjects and was associated with a predisposing cause in 2 of 3 subjects. We suggest that low dose continuous supplementation (10 to 20 micrograms daily) is the regime of choice but high-dose intermittent supplementation (2.5 mg six monthly) may be suitable where compliance is poor.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, University College Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Byrne
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Freaney
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: McKenna
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002118:Calcium / Q000097:blood; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006887:Hydroxycholecalciferols / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000517:prevention & control*
chemical_list: D006887:Hydroxycholecalciferols; D014807:Vitamin D; D002118:Calcium