Vitamin D and aging

Endocrinol Metab Clin North Am. 2013 Jun;42(2):319-32. doi: 10.1016/j.ecl.2013.02.004. Epub 2013 Apr 9.

Abstract

Age-related changes affect vitamin D metabolism and increase the requirement for vitamin D in the elderly. Also there is an age related decrease in calcium absorption and a higher calcium intake is needed. Increasing calcium from dietary sources may be better than supplements, and requires increasing the intake of dairy products or other and calcium-fortified foods. Evidence suggests that vitamin D and calcium nutrition can be improved in the elderly by increasing the vitamin D intake to 800 IU daily together with a total calcium intake of 1000 mg daily. This combination is a simple, inexpensive strategy that can reduce fractures in institutionalized individuals by 30%.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Aging*
  • Animals
  • Calcium, Dietary / metabolism
  • Calcium, Dietary / therapeutic use
  • Dairy Products / analysis
  • Dietary Supplements / adverse effects
  • Food, Fortified / analysis
  • Humans
  • Intestinal Absorption
  • Intestine, Small / growth & development
  • Intestine, Small / metabolism*
  • Kidney / growth & development
  • Kidney / metabolism*
  • Nutritional Requirements
  • Nutritional Status*
  • Osteoporosis / etiology
  • Osteoporosis / physiopathology
  • Osteoporosis / prevention & control
  • Osteoporotic Fractures / etiology
  • Osteoporotic Fractures / prevention & control
  • Skin / growth & development
  • Skin / metabolism*
  • Vitamin D / adverse effects
  • Vitamin D / blood
  • Vitamin D / metabolism*
  • Vitamin D / therapeutic use
  • Vitamin D Deficiency / diet therapy
  • Vitamin D Deficiency / metabolism
  • Vitamin D Deficiency / physiopathology
  • Vitamin D Deficiency / prevention & control

Substances

  • Calcium, Dietary
  • Vitamin D