Vitamin D supplementation: a pharmacologic perspective.
OBJECTIVE
Vitamin D supplementation is expected to increase as clinicians try to optimize their patients' vitamin D status. This review integrates newer information into a perspective on vitamin D disposition and effect.


RESULTS
Vitamin D is being considered for indications beyond bone health. The limited dose-response data vary by indication, but generally target a goal serum 25(OH)D concentration of 80-120 nmol/l. Although oral vitamin D is adequately absorbed, distributed, metabolized, and utilized before being excreted, these factors may vary with baseline vitamin D status, genetic polymorphism, and the form of vitamin D being administered. Additionally, the responses to vitamin D can be tissue-specific and are not always well described.


CONCLUSIONS
There is still a need to better characterize the disposition and effect of vitamin D supplementation. Data will need to be more specific to the therapeutic indication and demonstrate health outcomes. Long-term effects of high-dose supplementation at the tissue level will be especially important to describe.
Boullata
Joseph I
JI
Division of Biobehavioral & Health Sciences, University of Pennsylvania, School of Nursing, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. boullata@nursing.upenn.edu
D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006801:Humans; D018673:Nutrition Policy; D009752:Nutritional Status; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000097:blood / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014815:Vitamins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology*
D014815:Vitamins; D014807:Vitamin D; C104450:25-hydroxyvitamin D