title: Vitamin D and calcium insufficiency-related chronic diseases: an emerging world-wide public health problem.
abstract: Vitamin D and calcium insufficiencies are risk factors for multiple chronic diseases. Data from 46 recent studies from Europe, North America, South-East Asia and the South Pacific area clearly indicate that a low vitamin D status and inadequate calcium nutrition are highly prevalent in the general population (30-80%), affecting both genders. The extent of insufficiencies is particularly high in older populations, and in some geographical areas, also in children and in young women of child-bearing age, in ethnic minorities and immigrants, as well as in people of low socio-economic status. Enrichment of cereal grain products with vitamin D and calcium would be a viable approach to increase consumption and improve health outcomes in the general population worldwide.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathophysiology, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, A-1090, Vienna, Austria. meinrad.peterlik@meduniwien.ac.at
authors.forename: Meinrad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Peterlik
authors.forename: Steven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Boonen
authors.forename: Heide S
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Cross
authors.forename: Christel
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lamberg-Allardt
mesh_terms: D015519:Bone Density; D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents; D001851:Bone Diseases, Metabolic / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D002118:Calcium / Q000172:deficiency*; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000453:epidemiology; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D014943:Global Health; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009752:Nutritional Status; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D015995:Prevalence; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D011634:Public Health; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control
chemical_list: D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents; D002118:Calcium