title: Effects of vitamin D in the elderly population: current status and perspectives.
abstract: Besides its well-known effect on bone metabolism, recent researches suggest that vitamin D may also play a role in the muscular, immune, endocrine, and central nervous systems. Double-blind RCTs support vitamin D supplementation at a dose of 800 IU per day for the prevention of falls and fractures in the senior population. Ecological, case-control and cohort studies have suggested that high vitamin D levels were associated with a reduced risk of autoimmune diseases, type 2 diabetes, cardio-vascular diseases and cancer but large clinical trials are lacking today to provide solid evidence of a vitamin D benefit beyond bone health. At last, the optimal dose, route of administration, dosing interval and duration of vitamin D supplementation at a specific target dose beyond the prevention of vitamin D deficiency need to be further investigated.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Epidemiology and Health Economics, University of Liège, CHU Sart-Tilman, Bât B23, Liège, 4000 Belgium.
authors.forename: Olivier
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Bruyère
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Chemistry, University of Liège, CHU Sart-Tilman, Liege, Belgium.
authors.forename: Etienne
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cavalier
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Paris Descartes University, Necker Hospital, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Jean-Claude
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Souberbielle
authors.affiliation: Geriatric Clinic, Zurich University Hospital and Center for Aging and Mobility, Zurich, Switzerland ; Zurich University Hospital and Waid Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Heike A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Bischoff-Ferrari
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Epidemiology and Health Economics, University of Liège, CHU Sart-Tilman, Bât B23, Liège, 4000 Belgium.
authors.forename: Charlotte
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Beaudart
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Epidemiology and Health Economics, University of Liège, CHU Sart-Tilman, Bât B23, Liège, 4000 Belgium.
authors.forename: Fanny
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Buckinx
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Epidemiology and Health Economics, University of Liège, CHU Sart-Tilman, Bât B23, Liège, 4000 Belgium.
authors.forename: Jean-Yves
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Reginster
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation and Geriatrics, Geneva University Hospitals and Faculty of Medicine, Geneva, Switzerland.
authors.forename: René
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rizzoli