Vitamin D supplement consumption is required to achieve a minimal target 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentration of ≥75 nmol/L in older people

Abstract

Population level data on how older individuals living at high latitudes achieve optimal vitamin D status are not fully explored. Our objective was to examine the intake of vitamin D among healthy older individuals with 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] concentrations ≥75 nmol/L and to describe current sources of dietary vitamin D. We conducted a population-based, crosssectional study of 404 healthy men and women aged 69 to 83 y randomly selected from the NuAge longitudinal study in Qué bec, Canada. Dietary intakes were assessed by 6 24-h recalls. We examined the contribution of foods and vitamin/ mineral supplements to vitamin D intake. Serum 25(OH)D was assessed by RIA. We assessed smoking status, season of 25(OH)D measurement, physical activity, and anthropometric and sociodemographic variables. Vitamin D status was distributed as follows: 7% (<37.5 nmol/L), 48% (37.5-74.9 nmol/L), and 45% (≥75 nmol/L). Vitamin D intake from supplements varied across the 3 vitamin D status groups: 0.5, 4.1, and 8.9 mg/d, respectively (P < 0.0001). Adding food sources, these total intakes were 4.6, 8.7, and 14.1 μg/d, respectively. In multivariate analysis, vitamin D from foods and supplements and by season was associated with vitamin D status. These healthy, community-dwelling older men and women with 25(OH)D concentrations >75 nmol/L had mean intakes of 14.1 μg/d from food and supplements. Supplement use is an important contributor to achieve a minimal target of 25(OH)D concentration ≥75 nmol/L. © 2010 American Society for Nutrition.