Written by Greg Arnold, DC, CSCS. In 80 seniors 74% had low levels of vitamin D, yet they consumed more than the recommended amount of vitamin D per day.
A new study (1) has found that vitamin D blood levels in seniors is too low and needs to be increased. The study involved 80 participants aged 65 to 89 years of age, 74% of whom had low blood levels of vitamin D (12-31 nanograms per milliliter), yet they consumed more than the recommended 400 to 600 IU per day of vitamin D (2). Half of the group was given a vitamin D information sheet, instructed to get at least 1200 IU per day of vitamin D and were told ways to do that in the form of supplementation and food sources. The group not given the vitamin D information sheet was the control group. The study lasted 12 weeks but the patients were followed up after 2 weeks via a telephone call to discuss their progress and review the vitamin D information sheet.
At the end of 12 weeks, 55% of the participants in the vitamin D information sheet group achieved vitamin D blood level concentrations of at least 32 ng/mL, classifying them as “desirable for overall health and disease prevention” (2). Only 24% of the placebo group achieved this level. They also found that self-reported total vitamin D intake increased 647 IU per day in the information sheet group compared to only 67 IU per day in the placebo group. What’s more, those in the vitamin D group reported consuming an average of more than 1,400 IU per day of vitamin D.
For the researchers, “A daily recommendation of more than 1,200 IU vitamin D daily is likely necessary to ensure that all geriatric outpatients with insufficient vitamin D concentrations achieve the target of at least 32 ng/mL”.
Source: Griend, Joseph P. Vande, Sunny A. Linnebur, J. Mark Ruscin, Sheryl F. Vondracek, Pamela Wolfe, and Michael T. McDermott. “Vitamin D intervention by pharmacists in geriatric outpatients.” Journal of the American Pharmacists Association 48, no. 4 (2008): 501-509a.
© 2008 American Pharmacists Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Posted August 25, 2008.
Greg Arnold is a Chiropractic Physician practicing in Danville, CA.
References:
1. Vande Griend JP. Vitamin D intervention by pharmacists in geriatric outpatients. Jou Amer Pharm Assoc 2008; 48(4): 501-507
2. “Vitamin D” from the Office of Dietary Supplements.
