title: Common misconceptions about vitamin D--implications for clinicians.
abstract: Misconceptions about vitamin D continue to grow despite publications in the past few years that have attempted to clarify risk. We present our perspective, and offer several conclusions. Calcium and vitamin D supplementation can reduce fracture risk by ∼10%. On the other hand, little evidence exists to support a threshold measure for vitamin D status (serum levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D) above which fractures are reduced. The association of serum concentrations of 25-hydroxyvitamin D with other chronic diseases is confounded by multiple factors and conflicting outcomes that cannot be used to support a causal association. High doses of vitamin D supplements might not be completely harmless and should be avoided until additional data becomes available. Similarly, scant rationale exists for aggressive vitamin D supplementation for pregnant or lactating women. Dispelling misconceptions about vitamin D will ultimately benefit health-care providers and patients alike.
authors.affiliation: Maine Medical Center Research Institute, 81 Research Drive, Scarborough, ME 04074, USA. crofen@gmail.com
authors.forename: Clifford J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Rosen
authors.forename: Christine L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Taylor
mesh_terms: D019587:Dietary Supplements; D006801:Humans; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy
chemical_list: D014807:Vitamin D; C104450:25-hydroxyvitamin D