Charles Bankhead
writing in MedPage Today reported that current evidence does not support
supplementation with daily vitamin D or calcium to reduce the risk of fractures
in adults, the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) concluded.
In particular, the combination of 400 IU of vitamin D and 1,000 mg of calcium has
no effect on fracture risk in community-based postmenopausal women, and
evidence is insufficient to support higher doses of the supplements in this
segment of the population for fracture prevention, a USPSTF panel stated in
recommendations published in the Annals
of Internal Medicine.
Comment: Well
paint me blue and call me Uncle Bob!
Vitamin D Supplements May Not Benefit Patients With Knee Osteoarthritis
Genevra Pittman writing in Reuters reported that, according to a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, daily vitamin D supplements may not relieve knee pain or slow cartilage loss in individuals with osteoarthritis. Michael Smith in MedPage Today added that the “trial contradicts observational studies that had suggested higher levels of vitamin D might slow the progression of the disease…reported” the researchers
Low Vitamin D Levels Increase Death In Elderly Women
Crystal Phend writing in MedPage Today reported that “low vitamin D levels, common among women in nursing homes, may raise their risk of dying within a few years, Austrian researchers found.” According to the story, “Women with the worst deficiency, at 14 nmol/L serum vitamin D or less, were 49% more likely to die over a period of about two years than those with the highest levels.” Comment: Vitamin D deficiency is an epidemic in nursing homes.
Diana Mahoney writing in Rheumatology news described a study comparing the blood vitamin D of 265 adults with chronic musculoskeletal pain compared with 200 pain free controls. All adults were over the age of 654. Lower than normal vitamin D levels were seen in 70 percent of the pain group vs 32 percent of the pain free group. We know vitamin D levels tend to run low in people with arthritis. But is Vitamin D the cause or effect… chicken or egg?
Higher Vitamin D Levels May Boost Medicines Used To Treat Osteoporosis.
Shari Roan writing in the Los Angeles Times reported that, according to research presented at the Endocrine Society’s annual meeting, “adequate levels of vitamin D in the bloodstream also appear to boost the power of bisphosphonates, medications used to treat osteoporosis.” In their study, “researchers found that having a circulating vitamin D level greater than 33 nanograms per milliliter was linked to a seven times greater likelihood of having a good response to bisphosphonates.”
Increasing Milk Intake Will Not Significantly Reduce Risk For Hip Fracture.
Laura Dean writing in Medwire reported that, according to a study in the Journal of Bone and Mineral Research, increasing milk intake will not significantly cut a person’s risk for hip fracture. The study looking at both men and women found no correlation between milk intake and reduced risk for fractures of the hip.
In contrast to a previous blog posting about Americans not getting enough vitamin D, Rob Stein writing in the Washington Post reported that the Institute of Medicine “released new recommendations for how much vitamin D people should be getting on a regular basis.” He continues, “In spite of mounting pressure to urge many Americans to sharply boost their vitamin D levels, they did not advocate a huge increase.” In fact, “an expert committee concluded that most Americans and Canadians up to age 70 need no more than 600 international units of vitamin D per day.” ”The analysis showed that the risk for vitamin D deficiency differed by age, sex and race or ethnicity,” Robert Preidt added in HealthDay. Basically… it’s all confusing and patient care needs to be given on a case-by-case method.
One Third Of Americans May Not Be Getting Enough Vitamin D.
Mary Brophy Marcus writing in USA Today reports, “About one third of Americans are not getting enough vitamin D,” according to a National Center for Health Statistics data brief by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The report “parallels what many other studies have suggested in recent years: that a large chunk of the population is at risk for low vitamin D levels.” Although approximately “two-thirds had sufficient levels… about a third were in ranges suggesting risk of either inadequate or deficient levels, says report author Anne Looker, a research scientist with the CDC.” Not enough vitamin D… Hmmm. Maybe yes… maybe no.
