title: [Vitamin D in the elderly: 5 points to remember].
abstract: Vitamin D is a secosteroid hormone. Vitamin D receptors are present in the majority of body tissues. The manifestations of hypovitaminosis D - linked to dysfunction of target tissues - are various, including osteoporosis, cancer, tuberculosis, hypertension, multiple sclerosis, depression, dementia, sarcopenia, propensity to fall… The serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D threshold value to avoid these adverse health events is around 30 ng/mL. Only 15% of the elderly reach this target concentration. For the remaining 85% with no supplements, the severity of hypovitaminosis D appears to be a biomarker of chronic diseases and of frailty. Conversely, the supplementation for correction of hypovitaminosis D positively impacts bone and non-bone morbidities - such as risks of falls and fractures - and reduces the mortality rate. A daily intake of at least 800-1,000 IU supplemental vitamin D(3) per day is the key.
authors: Département de médecine interne et gériatrie, Centre hospitalier universitaire d'Angers, France. CeAnnweiler@chu-angers.fr
authors: Cédric
authors: C
authors: Annweiler
authors: Jean-Claude
authors: JC
authors: Souberbielle
authors: Anne-Marie
authors: AM
authors: Schott
authors: Laure
authors: L
authors: de Decker
authors: Gilles
authors: G
authors: Berrut
authors: Olivier
authors: O
authors: Beauchet
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015415:Biomarkers; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D006801:Humans; D018673:Nutrition Policy; D009751:Nutritional Requirements; D012016:Reference Values; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D014807:Vitamin D