How Much Vitamin D₃Do the Elderly Need?

Abstract

A clear dose response was noted in S-25-OHD to different doses of vitamin D3. The recommended dietary intake of 15 microg is adequate to maintain the S-25-OHD concentration around 40-55 nmol/L during winter, but if the optimal S-25-OHD is higher than that even higher vitamin D intakes are needed. Interestingly, subjects with lower vitamin D status at baseline responded more efficiently to supplementation than those with more adequate status.

High-dose oral vitamin D3 supplementation in the elderly

“…Though substantial, these increases were again not as great as when baseline 25OHD was <50 nmol/L. A similar observation was made by Viljakainen et al who provided vitamin D 3 (200-800 IU/day) to elderly women and noted that the response was almost doubled when initial 25OHD levels were below the median level of 47 nmol/L [39]. Vieth has suggested that homeostatic control mechanisms, possibly hepatic, prevent large increases in 25OHD [40].…”

Safety and Efficacy of Weekly 30,000 IU Vitamin D Supplementation as a Slower Loading Dose Administration Compared to a Daily Maintenance Schedule in Deficient Patients: A Randomized, Controlled Clinical Trial

“…The time-course and dose-response to daily or monthly oral vitamin D3 administration in healthy young volunteers has been discussed and reported earlier by several research groups [13,27]. It is observed that a response ratio is being reduced to almost half when initial 25OHD levels are above 20 ng/mL and decreasing proportionally in higher doses [3,28]. (ii) Higher doses may have slightly altered biological utilization and capacity to revert 25OHD levels, potentially due to PK reasons.…”

Evaluation of efficacy of a nanoparticle based vitamin D formulation in correction of vitamin D levels in patients with documented deficiency or insufficiency of vitamin D

“…14 The serum 25(OH) D response to oral supplementation is positively related to the dose given but inversely related to initial serum 25 (OH) D concentration. 15,16 Vitamin D deficiency patients present with generally musculoskeletal symptoms, such as bone pain, myalgias, and generalized weakness. 17 A published literature suggests that vitamin D 3 granules eight weeks of vitamin D 3 60,000 IU/week oral granules supplementation increased serum 25 (OH) D to optimal levels in most of the subjects with Vitamin D deficiency.…”