title: Vitamin D: do we get enough? A discussion between vitamin D experts in order to make a step towards the harmonisation of dietary reference intakes for vitamin D across Europe.
abstract: On September 29, 2011, acknowledged experts in the field of vitamin D, mainly European, were brought together in order to discuss the recent scientific advances in relation to vitamin D: the current requirements and associations with various health outcomes. In this article, the discussions resulting from the meeting are summarized.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Several groups at risk for developing vitamin D insufficiency have been identified. Accordingly, reviews indicate that a significant percentage of the population worldwide have serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels below 50 nmol/l. In addition to the role of vitamin D in bone health, recent studies suggest that it may play a pivotal role in other systems, e.g., the cardiovascular system, pancreas, muscle, immune system and brain. Most evidence, however, is obtained from observational studies and yet inconclusive.
  
  
  METHODS
  To exchange and broaden knowledge on the requirements for vitamin D and its effect on various health outcomes, a workshop entitled "Vitamin D Expert Meeting: Do we get enough?", was organized.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Despite low vitamin D levels worldwide, consensus on the definition of deficiency is not yet reached. In order to define cut-off points for vitamin D whilst taking into account extraskeletal health effects, randomized controlled trials in these fields are warranted. The experts do emphasize that there is evidence to suggest an important role for vitamin D in the maintenance of optimal bone health at all ages and that vitamin D supplementation, in most studies co-administered with calcium, reduces fracture risk in the senior population.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  To reach a serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D level of 50 nmol/l older adults aged ≥65 years are therefore recommended to meet a mean daily vitamin D intake of 20 μg (800 IU), which is best achieved with a supplement.
authors.affiliation: Division of Human Nutrition, Wageningen University and Research Centre, P.O. Box 8129, 6700, EV, Wageningen, The Netherlands. elske.brouwer@wur.nl
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Brouwer-Brolsma
authors.forename: H A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Bischoff-Ferrari
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bouillon
authors.forename: E J M
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Feskens
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Gallagher
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hypponen
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Llewellyn
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Stoecklin
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dierkes
authors.forename: A K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Kies
authors.forename: F J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Kok
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lamberg-Allardt
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Moser
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pilz
authors.forename: W H
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Saris
authors.forename: N M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: van Schoor
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Weber
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Witkamp
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zittermann
authors.forename: L C P G M
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: de Groot
mesh_terms: D004032:Diet / Q000592:standards*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005060:Europe; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine / Q000379:methods; D014943:Global Health; D006801:Humans; D012016:Reference Values; D013472:Sunlight; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000097:blood; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*
chemical_list: D014807:Vitamin D; C104450:25-hydroxyvitamin D