title: Low vitamin D status: time to recognize and correct a Wisconsin epidemic.
abstract: As a result of low dietary intake and sun avoidance, low vitamin D status is endemic in Wisconsin. In a convenience sample of postmenopausal Wisconsin residents, 59% had suboptimal D status. Only recently, the medical community has begun to appreciate that low vitamin D status underlies multiple deleterious health consequences including skeletal fragility, muscle weakness, and a potential multitude of non-skeletal morbidities. At present, a routine recommendation indicates that at least 1000 IU of vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) daily is indicated, although the true requirement may be greater. This review details vitamin D physiology and the prevalence of low vitamin D status in Wisconsin and elsewhere, and provides approaches to optimizing vitamin D status.
authors.affiliation: University of Wisconsin Osteoporosis Clinical Center and Research Program, 2870 University Ave, Ste 100, Madison, WI 53705, USA.
authors.forename: Neil
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Binkley
authors.forename: Diane
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Krueger
authors.forename: Marc K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Drezner
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D015519:Bone Density; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D013472:Sunlight; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014922:Wisconsin / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D014807:Vitamin D