title: Vitamin D and people with intellectual disability.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Vitamin D is essential for the normal functioning of a diverse range of metabolic processes, especially bone health. It is widely appreciated that the elderly are at increased risk of vitamin D insufficiency, but it is less well known that people with intellectual disability are also at increased risk.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This article summarises the issues regarding vitamin D in people with intellectual disability, making recommendations about screening, management and follow up.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prevalence of intellectual disability in the Australian population has been estimated at just over 1%, implying that most general practitioners will care for several people with intellectual disability. Relatively simple steps are likely to have a significant impact on the health of this vulnerable group of people.
authors.affiliation: Discipline of General Practice, University of Adelaide, South Australia. vanlint@adelaide.edu.au
authors.forename: Simon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vanlint
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nugent
authors.forename: Seeta
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Durvasula
mesh_terms: D001315:Australia; D005194:Family Practice; D006801:Humans; D019989:Persons with Intellectual Disabilities; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000628:therapy