EMAS position statement: Vitamin D and menopausal health.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to evaluate the role of vitamin D, often co-administered with calcium, in the health of postmenopausal women, focusing on skeletal and non-skeletal outcomes.
Results Summary
Vitamin D supplementation, when co-administered with calcium (1000-1200 mg/day), showed benefits for skeletal health, particularly in elderly populations and those with severe deficiency. However, effects on non-skeletal outcomes like cardiovascular events, cancer incidence, and menopausal symptoms were modest or absent.
Population
Postmenopausal women, with specific focus on elderly populations and those with severe vitamin D deficiency.
Effective Dosage
1000-1200 mg/day of calcium, co-administered with vitamin D (800-2000 IU/day for maintenance, higher doses for repletion).
Duration
Not specified in the abstract.
Interactions
None mentioned.
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
vitamin D supplementation | increase | skeletal health | elderly populations and those with severe vitamin D deficiency | maintenance doses of 800-2000 IU/day (20-50 μg/day) | may be of benefit only when co-administered with calcium | #1 |
vitamin D supplementation | increase | lipid profile and glucose homeostasis | obese individuals or those ≥60 years old | doses of ≥2000 IU/day (≥50 μg/day) | may have a modestly beneficial effect | #2 |
vitamin D supplementation | no change | incidence of cardiovascular events | - | - | has no effect | #3 |
vitamin D supplementation | no change | cancer incidence | - | - | has no effect | #4 |
vitamin D supplementation | decrease | cancer-related mortality | - | - | a modest reduction | #5 |
vitamin D supplementation | decrease | acute respiratory tract infections | - | - | may decrease the risk | #6 |
vitamin D supplementation | decrease | severity of COVID-19 | - | - | may decrease | #7 |
vitamin D supplementation | no change | menopausal symptomatology (except for vulvovaginal atrophy) | - | - | has no effect | #8 |
vitamin D supplementation | increase | vulvovaginal atrophy | - | 40,000-60,000 IU/week (1000-1500 IU/week) orally or 1000 IU/day (25 μg/day) as a vaginal suppository | has effect | #9 |
INTRODUCTION: There is increasing evidence that vitamin D has widespread tissue effects. In addition to osteoporosis, vitamin D deficiency has been associated with cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer, infections and neurodegenerative disease. However, the effect of vitamin D supplementation on non-skeletal outcomes requires clarification, especially in postmenopausal women. AIM: This position statement provides an evidence-based overview of the role of vitamin D in the health of postmenopausal women based on observational and interventional studies. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Literature review and consensus of expert opinion. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Vitamin D status is determined by measuring serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels. Concentrations <20 ng/ml (<50 nmol/l) and <10 ng/ml (<25 nmol/l) are considered to constitute vitamin D deficiency and severe deficiency, respectively. Observational data suggest an association between vitamin D deficiency and adverse health outcomes in postmenopausal women, although they cannot establish causality. The evidence from randomized controlled trials concerning vitamin D supplementation is not robust, since many studies did not consider whether people were deficient at baseline. Moreover, high heterogeneity exists in terms of the population studied, vitamin D dosage, calcium co-administration and duration of intervention. Concerning skeletal health, vitamin D deficiency is associated with low bone mass and an increased risk of fractures. Vitamin D supplementation at maintenance doses of 800-2000 IU/day (20-50 μg/day), after repletion of vitamin D status with higher weekly or daily doses, may be of benefit only when co-administered with calcium (1000-1200 mg/day), especially in the elderly populations and those with severe vitamin D deficiency. Concerning cardiovascular disease, vitamin D deficiency is associated with an increased prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors, mainly metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes mellitus and dyslipidemia. Vitamin D deficiency, especially its severe form, is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular events (coronary heart disease, stroke, mortality), independently of traditional risk factors. Vitamin D supplementation may have a modestly beneficial effect on lipid profile and glucose homeostasis, especially in obese individuals or those ≥60 years old and at doses of ≥2000 IU/day (≥50 μg/day). However, it has no effect on the incidence of cardiovascular events. Concerning cancer, vitamin D deficiency is associated with increased incidence of and mortality from several types of cancer, such as colorectal, lung and breast cancer. However, the data on other types of gynecological cancer are inconsistent. Vitamin D supplementation has no effect on cancer incidence, although a modest reduction in cancer-related mortality has been observed. Concerning infections, vitamin D deficiency has been associated with acute respiratory tract infections, including coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Vitamin D supplementation may decrease the risk of acute respiratory tract infections and the severity of COVID-19 (not the risk of infection). Concerning menopausal symptomatology, vitamin D deficiency may have a negative impact on some aspects, such as sleep disturbances, depression, sexual function and joint pains. However, vitamin D supplementation has no effect on these, except for vulvovaginal atrophy, at relatively high doses, i.e., 40,000-60,000 IU/week (1000-1500 IU/week) orally or 1000 IU/day (25 μg/day) as a vaginal suppository.