Is a lower dose of vitamin D supplementation enough to increase 25(OH)D status in a sunny country?
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of calcium and vitamin D supplementation in improving bone health in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis living in a sunny country.
Results Summary
The study found that supplementation with 1,200 mg of calcium carbonate and 400 IU of vitamin D3 significantly increased serum 25(OH)D levels but was insufficient to achieve optimal levels in most participants. Parathyroid hormone levels showed a tendency to decrease in the supplement group, though the effect was not statistically significant.
Population
Postmenopausal women with osteoporosis, mean age 62 ± 8 years.
Effective Dosage
1,200 mg calcium carbonate and 400 IU vitamin D3 daily.
Duration
3 months
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
calcium and vitamin D supplementation | increase | serum 25(OH)D concentration | postmenopausal women with osteoporosis | from 46.67 + or - 13.97 to 59.47 + or - 17.50 nmol/l | increased significantly | #1 |
calcium and vitamin D supplementation (400 IU/day) | no change | 25(OH)D concentration considered optimal for bone health | postmenopausal women with osteoporosis | - | was not enough to achieve | #2 |
calcium and vitamin D supplementation | decrease | mean parathyroid hormone | postmenopausal women with osteoporosis | - | tended to decrease | #3 |
BACKGROUND: Calcium and vitamin D are essential nutrients for bone metabolism Vitamin D can either be obtained from dietary sources or cutaneous synthesis. The study was conducted in subtropic weather; therefore, some might believe that the levels of solar radiation would be sufficient in this area. AIM OF THE STUDY: To evaluate calcium and vitamin D supplementation in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis living in a sunny country. METHODS: A 3-month controlled clinical trial with 64 postmenopausal women with osteoporosis, mean age 62 + or - 8 years. They were randomly assigned to either the supplement group, who received 1,200 mg of calcium carbonate and 400 IU (10 microg) of vitamin D(3,) or the control group. Dietary intake assessment was performed, bone mineral density and body composition were measured, and biochemical markers of bone metabolism were analyzed. RESULTS: Considering all participants at baseline, serum vitamin D was under 75 nmol/l in 91.4% of the participants. The concentration of serum 25(OH)D increased significantly (p = 0.023) after 3 months of supplementation from 46.67 + or - 13.97 to 59.47 + or - 17.50 nmol/l. However, the dose given was limited in effect, and 86.2% of the supplement group did not reach optimal levels of 25(OH)D. Parathyroid hormone was elevated in 22.4% of the study group. After the intervention period, mean parathyroid hormone tended to decrease in the supplement group (p = 0.063). CONCLUSION: The dose given (400 IU/day) was not enough to achieve 25(OH)D concentration, considered optimal for bone health.