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Cited by 276Vitamin D Research StudiesBone health and osteoporosis researchNutrition and Health Studies

Vitamin D testing and treatment: a narrative review of current evidence

Open access
Pilz, Stefan, Zittermann, Armin, Trummer, Christian, Theiler-Schwetz, Verena, Lerchbaum, Elisabeth, Keppel, Martin H, Grübler, Martin R, März, Winfried +1 more·2019·Endocrine Connections
DOI 10.1530/ec-18-0432PMC PMC6365669
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Abstract

Vitamin D testing and treatment is a subject of controversial scientific discussions, and it is challenging to navigate through the expanding vitamin D literature with heterogeneous and partially opposed opinions and recommendations. In this narrative review, we aim to provide an update on vitamin D guidelines and the current evidence on the role of vitamin D for human health with its subsequent implications for patient care and public health issues. Vitamin D is critical for bone and mineral metabolism, and it is established that vitamin D deficiency can cause rickets and osteomalacia. While many guidelines recommend target serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D) concentrations of ≥50 nmol/L (20 ng/mL), the minimum consensus in the scientific community is that serum 25(OH)D concentrations below 25-30 nmol/L (10-12 ng/mL) must be prevented and treated. Using this latter threshold of serum 25(OH)D concentrations, it has been documented that there is a high worldwide prevalence of vitamin D deficiency that may require public health actions such as vitamin D food fortification. On the other hand, there is also reason for concern that an exploding rate of vitamin D testing and supplementation increases costs and might potentially be harmful. In the scientific debate on vitamin D, we should consider that nutrient trials differ from drug trials and that apart from the opposed positions regarding indications for vitamin D treatment we still have to better characterize the precise role of vitamin D for human health.

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  • Cutaneously produced vitamin D accounts for approximately 80% of total vitamin D supply but can vary based on time of day, season, latitude, skin pigmentation, and age.

    “Cutaneously produced vitamin D accounts for approximately 80% of total vitamin D supply [282] but can vary based on a number of aspects including the time of day, season of the year, latitude, skin pigmentation, and age [283,284].”

    From Nutritional Considerations for the Vegan Athlete (2023) · cites this paper as [282]

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  1. [86]Ross AC Manson JE Abrams SA Aloia JF Brannon PM Clinton SK Durazo-Arvizu RA Gallagher JC Gallo RL Jones G, et al The 2011 report on dietary reference intakes for calcium and vitamin D from the Institute of Medicine: what clinicians need to know. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism 2011 96 53– 58. (10.1210/jc.2010-2704) 21118827 PMC3046611 · DOI

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Authors
Pilz, S., Zittermann, A., Trummer, C., Theiler-Schwetz, V., Lerchbaum, E., Keppel, M. H., Grübler, M. R., März, W., & Pandis, M.
Affiliations
  • Medical University of Graz (AT)
  • Heart and Diabetes Center North Rhine-Westphalia (DE)
  • 1Division of Endocrinology and Diabetology, Department of Internal Medicine, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
  • Paracelsus Medical University (AT)
  • University of Bern (CH)
Corresponding author
Pilz, Stefan
ORCID
Venue
Endocrine Connections
Publisher
Bioscientifica
Published
2019-02
Volume
8
Issue
2
Pages
R27-R43
ISSN
2049-3614 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1530/ec-18-0432
PMC
PMC6365669
OpenAlex
W2910301785
Cited by
276
References
187
Citations by year
2026: 27 · 2025: 26 · 2024: 26 · 2023: 42 · 2022: 44 · 2021: 41 · 2020: 47 · 2019: 22 · 2018: 1
FWCI
5.72
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Endocrine Connections (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Pathology and Forensic Medicine › Vitamin D Research Studies
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Orthopedics and Sports Medicine › Bone health and osteoporosis research
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Nutrition and Health Studies
Keywords
vitamin D, vitamin D deficiency, 25-hydroxyvitamin D, vitamin D supplementation, vitamin D testing, bone mineral metabolism, rickets, osteomalacia

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