Gériatrie et Psychologie Neuropsychiatrie du Vieillissement
MENUVitamin D in the elderly: 5 points to remember Volume 9, issue 3, Septembre 2011
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- Key words: vitamin D, steroid hormone, biomarker, supplementation, older adult
- DOI : 10.1684/pnv.2011.0288
- Page(s) : 259-67
- Published in: 2011
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.