Written by Greg Arnold, DC, CSCS. Researchers found that 89% of the elderly in nursing and rehabilitation facilities suffered “vitamin D inadequacy.
According to the National Institute of Health, vitamin D blood levels are classified as follows (2):
- Less than 12 nanograms/milliter = vitamin D deficiency
- 12-20 ng/mL = vitamin D inadequacy
- 21-50 ng/mL = vitamin D adequacy
- 51-60 ng/mL = upper levels of vitamin recommendations
- More than 61 ng/mL = approaching vitamin D toxicity
Now a new study in Germany (3) shows that elderly in nursing and rehabilitation facilities are at very high risks for vitamin D deficiency. In the study, researchers measured vitamin D blood levels in 1578 elderly patients admitted to an elderly care rehabilitation facility from July 2009 to March 2011. 87.5% of the patients were between the ages of 71 and 90 with the rest split between younger than 70 and older than 90 years of age.
The researchers found that 89% of the patients suffered “vitamin D inadequacy”, having blood levels lower than 20 ng/mL. What’s more, 2 out of 3 patients in that 89% inadequacy group were below 10 ng/mL and classified as vitamin D deficient. Only 4% had adequate levels of vitamin D (30–60 ng/mL) while none had vitamin D levels above 60 ng/mL.
For the researchers, “Persons of very advanced age need a better supply of vitamin D….” They propose that vitamin D supplementation “should be considered” for those over 70 at the Institute of Medicine’s current recommendations of 800 IU per day and no more than 4,000 IU per day (4).
Source: Schilling, Stefan. “Epidemic vitamin D deficiency among patients in an elderly care rehabilitation facility.” Deutsches Ärzteblatt International 2012; 109.(3): 33-8. DOI: 10.3238/arztebl.2012.0033
Click here to read the full text study.
Posted February 24, 2012.
Greg Arnold is a Chiropractic Physician practicing in Hauppauge, NY.
References:
- “Osteoporosis Basics” – see the National Osteoporosis Foundation website.
- “Vitamin D” – see the Office of Dietary Supplements website.
- Schilling S: Epidemic vitamin D deficiency among patients in an elderly care rehabilitation facility. Dtsch Arztebl Int 2012; 109(3): 33–8. DOI: 10.3238/arztebl.2012.0033.
- “Dietary Reference Intakes for Calcium and Vitamin D” see the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies.
