title: Calcium and vitamin D.
abstract: Calcium is required for normal growth and development as well as maintenance of the skeleton. Vitamin D is also essential for intestinal calcium absorption and plays a central role in maintaining calcium homeostasis and skeletal integrity. In addition, both micronutrients have important roles in non-skeletal-related physiological processes. Of concern, significant proportions of some population groups fail to achieve the recommended calcium intakes in a number of western countries. Furthermore, while cutaneous biosynthesis upon exposure of skin to ultraviolet B light is the major source of vitamin D for most people, this does not occur during winter time. Thus, there is an increased reliance on dietary sources during winter months to help maintain adequate vitamin D status. Since vitamin D is found naturally only in a limited number of foods, the usual dietary vitamin D intake by many European populations is not sufficient to maintain adequate vitamin D status. This paper will briefly review these important issues together with consideration of the potential role for supplementation with calcium and vitamin D in terms of improving their intakes in the population. It will also focus on the issues of efficacy as well as safety considerations of supplements.
authors.affiliation: Department of Food and Nutritional Sciences, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.
authors.forename: Kevin D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Cashman
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D015519:Bone Density / Q000187:drug effects; D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000502:physiology; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D002118:Calcium / Q000172:deficiency; D002136:Calcium, Dietary / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003257:Consumer Product Safety; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007408:Intestinal Absorption / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009751:Nutritional Requirements; D011247:Pregnancy; D012621:Seasons; D012737:Sex Factors; D013472:Sunlight; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000494:pharmacology; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000517:prevention & control
chemical_list: D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents; D002136:Calcium, Dietary; D014807:Vitamin D; D002118:Calcium