Large loading doses of vitamin D(3) rapidly and safely normalize 25OHD levels in the frail elderly. Monthly dosing is similarly effective and safe, but takes 3-5 months for plateau 25OHD levels to be reached.

Background: There is no consistent evidence, to our knowledge, that calcium supplementation affects bone mineral density (BMD) in men, despite male osteoporosis being a common clinical problem.Methods: To determine the effects of calcium supplementation (600 mg/d, 1200 mg/d, or placebo) on BMD in men, we conducted a double-blind, randomized controlled trial for a 2-year period at an academic clinical research center. A total of 323 healthy men at least 40 years old (mean age, 57 years) were recruited by newspaper advertisement. Complete follow-up was achieved in 96% of subjects. Results:The BMD increased at all sites in the group receiving calcium, 1200 mg/d, by 1% to 1.5% more than those receiving placebo. The results for the group receiving calcium, 600 mg/d, were not different from the placebo group at any BMD site. There was no interaction between the BMD treatment effect and either age or dietary calcium intake.

Vitamin D insufficiency is more common in older, frailer women. Community-dwelling older women with a seasonally adjusted 25(OH)D concentration <50 nmol/L were not at risk of adverse outcomes over 5 y after control for comorbidities. Randomized placebo-controlled trials are needed to determine whether vitamin D supplementation in individuals with vitamin D insufficiency influences health outcomes. This trial was registered at www.anzctr.org.au as ACTRN 012605000242628.

These data do not show significant effects of calcium supplementation on serum lipids or body composition. Calcium supplementation in those with low dietary intakes may benefit blood pressure control. This trial was registered with the Australian Clinical Trials Registry as ACTRN 012605000274673.

We aimed to describe the vitamin D status of young women living in two Chinese cities in the spring -Beijing in the north (latitude 398 north) and Hong Kong (latitude 228 north) in the south. We also examined the relationship between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D and parathyroid hormone (PTH) concentrations to determine a threshold for serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D above which there is no further suppression of PTH. Finally, we examined whether dietary Ca intake influences this relationship. Non-pregnant women aged 18-40 years (n 441) were recruited between February and June. Over 60 % of women in a recent survey in Hong Kong (n 547) indicated that they did not like going in the sun 10 .Vitamin D insufficiency increases blood parathyroid hormone (PTH) concentration. Chronically elevated PTH (secondary hyperparathyroidism) accelerates bone turnover and is thought to be the key mechanism of cortical bone loss related to vitamin D insufficiency 11 . PTH concentrations