Which vitamin D oral supplement is best for postmenopausal women?
Study Goal
The researchers reviewed recent recommendations on vitamin D supplementation for osteoporosis prevention, focusing on its role in fracture and fall prevention among postmenopausal women.
Results Summary
The study found that vitamin D supplementation (D3 or D2) is recommended to achieve a serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D threshold of at least 50 nmol/l (20 ng/ml) to prevent deficiency, with higher thresholds (75 nmol/l or 30 ng/ml) suggested for fracture prevention. The IOF and US Endocrine Society also recommend vitamin D for fall prevention, differing from the Institute of Medicine.
Population
Postmenopausal women
Effective Dosage
Not specified
Duration
Not specified
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
vitamin D supplementation | decrease | osteoporosis | postmenopausal women | - | is a key pillar of osteoporosis prevention | #1 |
vitamin D supplementation | decrease | vitamin D deficiency | - | - | should be performed | #2 |
vitamin D supplementation | increase | serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D | - | minimal threshold of 50 nmol/l (20 ng/ml) | should be performed | #3 |
vitamin D | decrease | falls | - | - | recommend | #4 |
vitamin D | decrease | fracture | - | threshold of 75 nmol/l (30 ng/ml) | state that for fracture prevention a higher serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D threshold should be targeted | #5 |
Next to a healthy calcium and protein rich diet and exercise, vitamin D supplementation is a key pillar of osteoporosis prevention among postmenopausal women. This article reviews the recent recommendations on vitamin D by the IOF (2010), the Institute of Medicine (2010), and the US Endocrine Society (2011), including the evidence to support these recommendations for fracture and fall prevention. The recent recommendations agree that supplementation should be performed with vitamin D3 or vitamin D2, and that a minimal serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D threshold of 50 nmol/l (20 ng/ml)should be achieved to overcome vitamin D deficiency. In contrast to the Institute of Medicine, the IOF and the US Endocrine Society recommend vitamin D also for the prevention of falls, and state that for fracture prevention a higher serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D threshold of 75 nmol/l (30 ng/ml) should be targeted.