title: Evaluation, treatment, and prevention of vitamin D deficiency: an Endocrine Society clinical practice guideline.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective was to provide guidelines to clinicians for the evaluation, treatment, and prevention of vitamin D deficiency with an emphasis on the care of patients who are at risk for deficiency.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Task Force was composed of a Chair, six additional experts, and a methodologist. The Task Force received no corporate funding or remuneration.
  
  
  METHODS
  Consensus was guided by systematic reviews of evidence and discussions during several conference calls and e-mail communications. The draft prepared by the Task Force was reviewed successively by The Endocrine Society's Clinical Guidelines Subcommittee, Clinical Affairs Core Committee, and cosponsoring associations, and it was posted on The Endocrine Society web site for member review. At each stage of review, the Task Force received written comments and incorporated needed changes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Considering that vitamin D deficiency is very common in all age groups and that few foods contain vitamin D, the Task Force recommended supplementation at suggested daily intake and tolerable upper limit levels, depending on age and clinical circumstances. The Task Force also suggested the measurement of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D level by a reliable assay as the initial diagnostic test in patients at risk for deficiency. Treatment with either vitamin D(2) or vitamin D(3) was recommended for deficient patients. At the present time, there is not sufficient evidence to recommend screening individuals who are not at risk for deficiency or to prescribe vitamin D to attain the noncalcemic benefit for cardiovascular protection.
authors.affiliation: Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts 02118, USA.
authors.forename: Michael F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Holick
authors.forename: Neil C
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Binkley
authors.forename: Heike A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Bischoff-Ferrari
authors.forename: Catherine M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Gordon
authors.forename: David A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Hanley
authors.forename: Robert P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Heaney
authors.forename: M Hassan
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Murad
authors.forename: Connie M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Weaver
mesh_terms: D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D006801:Humans; D012307:Risk Factors; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000097:blood; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000628:therapy
chemical_list: D014807:Vitamin D