Vitamin D: bone and beyond, rationale and recommendations for supplementation.
Adequate vitamin D status is necessary and beneficial for health, although deficiency plagues much of the world's population. In addition to reducing the risk for bone disease, vitamin D plays a role in reduction of falls, as well as decreases in pain, autoimmune diseases, cancer, heart disease, mortality, and cognitive function. On the basis of this emerging understanding, improving patients' vitamin D status has become an essential aspect of primary care. Although some have suggested increased sun exposure to increase serum vitamin D levels, this has the potential to induce photoaging and skin cancer, especially in patients at risk for these conditions. Vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency can be both corrected and prevented safely through supplementation.
Stechschulte
Sarah A
SA
Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Fla, USA.
Kirsner
Robert S
RS
Federman
Daniel G
DG
D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D006801:Humans; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000502:physiology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology
D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents; D014807:Vitamin D