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CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 · Journal of Diabetes and Endocrine Practice 2022; 05(04): 138-144
DOI: 10.1055/s-0043-1763273
Review Article

Vitamin D and Bone Health 2022: Is the Evidence Pendulum Switching Backward on Its Benefits?

Hussein F. Saadi
1   Medical Subspecialties Institute, Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
2   Department of Medicine, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Khalifa University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
3   Department of Medicine, Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western Reserve University, Ohio, United States
› Author Affiliations Funding and Sponsorship None.
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Abstract

Objectives: This concise article aims to (a) review the role of vitamin D in bone health, (b) discuss the consequences of vitamin D deficiency, (c) analyze the use of vitamin D to prevent and treat osteoporosis and (d) explore if the evidence pendulum is switching back on the beneficial effects of vitamin D.

Materials and Methods: A narrative nonsystematic review of the literature was done thematically to answer the questions stated in the objectives above.

Results: A literature review suggests that vitamin D deficiency can be a real clinical condition that warrants recognition and management, particularly in high-risk groups. The optimal vitamin D level is likely more than or equal to 50 nmol/L (20 ng/mL). The established consequences of vitamin D deficiency in adults include osteomalacia and osteoporosis. Moreover, whether vitamin D supplementation reduces falls and fractures in subjects with baseline vitamin D more than 50 nmol/L (20 ng/mL) is not confirmed. However, vitamin D supplementation is still needed for patients with osteoporosis and those at increased risk of vitamin D deficiency. Finally, there is no justification for measuring 25-hydroxyvitamin D in the general population.

Conclusions: For patients at increased risk for osteoporosis, those with vitamin D deficiency, or both, it remains reasonable to consider vitamin D supplementation (800–1,000 IU/d or more), consistent with recommendations of multiple societies.

Keywords

review - vitamin D - bone health - vitamin D deficiency - osteoporosis - bone density - fractures - narrative non-systematic review - optimal vitamin D level - osteomalacia

Authors contribution

Single authorship


Compliance with Ethical Problems

No ethical approval is required.


Ethics

No ethical approval is required




Publication History

Article published online:
16 March 2023

© 2023. Gulf Association of Endocrinology and Diabetes (GAED). This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonDerivative-NonCommercial License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit. Contents may not be used for commercial purposes, or adapted, remixed, transformed or built upon. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)

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