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Objective: To evaluate the nutritional status of vitamin D in urban populations of healthy elderly people living at home, in different regions of Argentina. Design: Cross-sectional study. Subjects: In total, 386 ambulatory subjects over 65 y of age from seven cities (between latitude 261S and 551S) were asked to participate between the end of winter and the beginning of spring. Of these, 369 accepted, 30 were excluded because of medical history or abnormal biochemical determinations. Finally, 339 subjects (226 women and 113 men) (X7s.d.) (71.37 5.2 y) were included. Results: Serum 25OHD levels were lowest in the South (latitude range: 411S-551S): 14.275.6 ng/ml (Po0.0001vs North and Mid regions); highest in the North (261S-271S): 20.777.4 ng/ml (Po0.03 vs Mid, Po0.0001vs South); and intermediate in the Mid region (331S-341S) 17.978.2 ng/ml. Serum mid-molecule PTH (mmPTH) and 25OHD were inversely related: (r ¼ À0.24, Po0.001). A cutoff level of 25OHD at which serum mmPTH levels began to increase was established at 27 ng/ml. A high prevalence (87-52%) of subjects with 25OHD levels in the deficiency-insufficiency range (25OHD levels o20 ng/ml) was detected. Conclusion: This study shows that vitamin D deficiency/insufficiency in the elderly is a worldwide problem. Correction of this deficit would have a positive impact on bone health of elderly people. Sponsorship: Asociació n Argentina de Osteología y Metabolismo Mineral (AAOMM).

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Objective: Assessment of the effectiveness and safety of high daily 125 mg (5000 IU) or 250 mg (10 000IU) doses of vitamin D 2 during 3 months, in rapidly obtaining adequate 25 hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) levels. Design: Longitudinal study. Subjects: Postmenopausal osteopenic/osteoporotic women (n ¼ 38) were studied during winter and spring. Median age (25-75th percentile) was 61.5 (57.00-66.25) years, and mean bone mineral density (BMD) was 0.902 (0.800-1.042)g/cm 2 . Subjects were randomly divided into three groups: control group (n ¼ 13): no vitamin D 2 , 125 mg/day (n ¼ 13) and 250 mg/day (n ¼ 12) of vitamin D 2 groups, all receiving 500 mg calcium/day. Serum calcium, phosphate, bone alkaline phosphatase (BAP), C-telopeptide (CTX), 25OHD, mid-molecule parathyroid hormone (mmPTH), daily urinary calcium and creatinine excretion were determined at baseline and monthly. Results: For all subjects (n ¼ 38), the median baseline 25 hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) level was 36.25 (27.5-48.12) nmol/l. After 3 months, 8% of the patients in the control group, 50% in the 125 mg/day group and 75% in the 250 mg/day group had 25OHD values above 85 nmol/l (34 ng/ml). Considering both vitamin D 2 groups together, mmPTH and BAP levels diminished significantly after 3 months (Po0.02), unlike those of CTX. Serum calcium remained within normal range during the follow-up. Conclusions: The oral dose of vitamin D 2 required to rapidly achieve adequate levels of 25OHD is seemingly much higher than the usual recommended vitamin D 3 dose (20 mg/day). During 3 months, 250 mg/day of vitamin D 2 most effectively raised 25OHD levels to 85 nmol/l in 75% of the postmenopausal osteopenic/osteoporotic women treated.