title: Vitamin D and multiple health outcomes in the Harvard cohorts.
abstract: The hypothesis that vitamin D is inversely associated with multiple health outcomes has been studied in the Harvard cohorts, including the Nurses' Health Study I (n=121,700 female nurses aged 37-64 at baseline in 1984), Nurses' Health Study II (n=116,671 female nurses aged 27-44 years at baseline in 1991), Health Professionals Follow-up Study (n=51,529 male health professionals aged 40-75 years at baseline in 1986), and Physicians' Health Study (n=22 071 male physicians aged 40-84 years at baseline in 1982). These studies assessed vitamin D through circulating 25-hydroxyvitamin D, dietary and supplemental intake, predicted 25-hydroxyvitamin D, and vitamin D receptor polymorphisms. This review summarizes studies of vitamin D and various endpoints considered in these cohorts, including risk of cardiovascular disease, hypertension, elevated plasma C-peptide, various cancers, bone fractures, and multiple sclerosis. Based on the multiple observed benefits of vitamin D, this article postulates recommendations for vitamin D intake in the US population for reduced incidence of multiple health outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Oregon Health and Science University School of Medicine, Portland, OR, USA.
authors.forename: Melissa Y
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.forename: Edward L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Giovannucci
mesh_terms: D015652:25-Hydroxyvitamin D 2 / Q000097:blood; D000328:Adult; D002112:Calcifediol / Q000097:blood; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004032:Diet; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005260:Female; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D018673:Nutrition Policy; D009751:Nutritional Requirements; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D018167:Receptors, Calcitriol / Q000235:genetics; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000502:physiology*; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000517:prevention & control*
chemical_list: D018167:Receptors, Calcitriol; D014807:Vitamin D; D015652:25-Hydroxyvitamin D 2; D002112:Calcifediol