title: A review of the health consequences of the vitamin D deficiency pandemic.
abstract: Rickets, osteomalacia, osteoporosis and myopathy are among the better known consequences of a low to very low vitamin D status. Over the past several years various predominantly epidemiological and prospective cohort studies have found associations between low vitamin D levels and various extraskeletal conditions. These findings may particularly become important over the next years since large proportions of the population have low vitamin D levels. Increasing incidence rates of obesity, adverse life-style factors and active avoidance of sunlight seem to decrease average population mean vitamin D levels further. This article gives a brief overview of known and also less well-established potential detrimental effects of a low vitamin D status.
authors.affiliation: Medical University of Graz, Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Auenbruggerplatz 15, A-8036 Graz, Austria. harald.dobnig@medunigraz.at
authors.forename: Harald
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Dobnig
mesh_terms: D015331:Cohort Studies; D015897:Comorbidity / Q000639:trends; D006801:Humans; D009135:Muscular Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D058873:Pandemics / Q000517:prevention & control; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control