Exposure to a Vitamin D Best Practices Toolkit, Model, and E-Tools Increases Knowledge, Confidence, and the Translation of Research to Public Health and Practice.

Preventable vitamin D deficiency (VDD) is a global health concern. The prevention, early detection, and treatment of vitamin D deficiency aligning with serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentration recommendations of 40-60 ng/mL (100-150 nmol/L), provided by an international panel of 48 vitamin D researchers, would result in significant health benefits and cost savings to individuals and society. However, research shows that healthcare professionals lack knowledge and confidence in best practices with respect to vitamin D.

Official recommendations for vitamin D through the life stages in developed countries.

Inadequate vitamin D nutritional status is prevalent worldwide and has been associated with autoimmune disorders, heart disease, deadly cancers, insulin resistance, inflammation, neurological disorders, adverse outcomes in pregnancy, and increased risk for mortality. Expert recommendations for vitamin D intake differ between governmental agencies and practice guidelines from medical societies due to differences in the definition of vitamin D deficiency, insufficiency and sufficiency based on serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] concentrations. In addition, separate health promotion bodies also provide targeted recommendations for the prevention of specific disorders such as reducing risk for developing some cancers and autoimmune diseases.

Retrospective Analysis of Cardiovascular Disease Risk Parameters in Participants of a Preventive Health and Wellness Program.

Lifestyle, dietary, and nutritional choices are important influencing parameters of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk, the number one cause of morbidity and mortality globally. Our aims were to i) characterize CVD risk parameters using data from 7939 participants enrolled in a preventive health and wellness program between March 2010 and January 2017; and ii) evaluate intervention effects in 3,020 participants who returned for follow-up. Blood measurements (nutrient markers), CVD risk parameters (abdominal obesity, hypertension, hyperglycemia, hypertriglyceridemia, low high-density lipoprotein (HDL), insulin resistance, and inflammation), glycemic status (HbA1c), and insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) were assessed.

Effectiveness and safety of steady versus intermittent high dose vitamin D supplementation for the prevention of falls and fractures among adults: a protocol for systematic review and network meta-analysis.

Introduction: Clinical trials and systematic reviews of trials involving vitamin D supplementation have mainly focused on defining the optimal amount of vitamin D dosage. However, the comparative effectiveness of different dosing schedules (ie, daily vs bolus dosing schedule) has been largely unexplored; and currently, there is no consensus regarding the optimal vitamin D dosing schedule. Our objective is to conduct a systematic review and network meta-analysis (NMA) to evaluate the comparative effectiveness and safety of steady (eg, daily, weekly) and intermittent high-dose (eg, monthly, yearly) vitamin D dosing schedules; and to determine the effectiveness of the various dosing schedules and combinations of treatments.

Vitamin D Supplementation, Serum 25(OH)D Concentrations and Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors are associated with low serum 25 hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) concentrations in observational studies; however, clinical trial findings are inconsistent. We assessed the effect of vitamin D supplementation and increased serum 25(OH)D concentrations on CVD risk factors in a systemic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs). MEDLINE, CINAHL, EMBASE, and Google Scholar were searched for RCTs that evaluated vitamin D supplementation and cardiovascular outcomes [blood pressure, parathyroid hormone (PTH), serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), total cholesterol, high and low density lipoprotein (HDL and LDL, respectively), triglycerides, peak wave velocity (PWV) and Augmentation Index (AI)] from 1992 through 2017.

Vitamin D Supplementation, Glycemic Control, and Insulin Resistance in Prediabetics: A Meta-Analysis.

Diabetes prevention is a public health priority. Vitamin D supplementation may help prevent the development of diabetes in persons at increased risk. We performed a meta-analysis of controlled clinical trials that assessed glycemic outcome measures among adults at risk for type 2 diabetes, including prediabetes, overweight, or obesity.

Sunbeds with UVB radiation can produce physiological levels of serum 25-Hydroxyvitamin D in healthy volunteers.

Vitamin D is produced in the skin in response to UVB irradiation, from either sun exposure or UVB sunbeds. The objective of the current study was to characterize serum 25(OH)D response to regular sunbed use from several lamp outputs following their respective time exposure recommendations. There were three groups that tanned over 12 weeks during the winter months in dedicated sunbeds based on lamp outputs (100 W and 160 W low pressure fluorescent and 700 W high pressure filtered metal halide lamps) and a control group provided serum 25(OH)D samples at baseline and end-of-study.

Database Analysis of Depression and Anxiety in a Community Sample-Response to a Micronutrient Intervention.

Background: Depression and anxiety are common mental health concerns worldwide. Broad-spectrum multi-vitamin/mineral approaches have been found to alleviate a number of psychiatric symptoms. We investigated the effects of a nutrient intervention program, which includes optimizing vitamin D levels, on depression and anxiety outcomes from community-based program.

A Critical Appraisal of the Recent Reports on Sunbeds from the European Commission's Scientific Committee on Health, Environmental and Emerging Risks and from the World Health Organization.

The European Commission's Scientific Committee on Health, Environmental and Emerging Risks and the World Health Organization recently published reports which concluded that a large proportion of melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancer is attributable to sunbed use, and that there is no need to use sunbeds as there are no health benefits and they are not needed to achieve an optimal vitamin D level. The overall conclusion from both bodies was that there is no safe limit for UV irradiance from sunbeds. We are, however, deeply concerned that these assessments appear to be based on an incomplete, unbalanced and non-critical evaluation of the literature.

Effect of a vitamin and mineral supplementation on glycemic status: Results from a community-based program.

Aims: Diet is a major risk factor for type 2 diabetes mellitus. As cofactors necessary for enzyme function of all metabolic pathways, vitamins and minerals have the potential to improve glucose metabolism. We investigated the effects of a nutrient intervention program on glycemic status.

The Association between Serum 25(OH)D Status and Blood Pressure in Participants of a Community-Based Program Taking Vitamin D Supplements.

Background: Vitamin D deficiency is a risk factor for hypertension.

Methods: We assessed 8155 participants in a community-based program to investigate the association between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) status and blood pressure (BP) and the influence of vitamin D supplementation on hypertension. Participants were provided vitamin D supplements to reach a target serum 25(OH)D > 100 nmol/L.

Physiological serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations are associated with improved thyroid function-observations from a community-based program.

Purpose: Vitamin D deficiency has been associated with an increased risk of hypothyroidism and autoimmune thyroid disease. Our aim was to investigate the influence of vitamin D supplementation on thyroid function and anti-thyroid antibody levels.

Methods: We constructed a database that included 11,017 participants in a health and wellness program that provided vitamin D supplementation to target physiological serum 25-hydroxyvitmain D [25(OH)D] concentrations (>100 nmol/L).

The Effect of Improved Serum 25-Hydroxyvitamin D Status on Glycemic Control in Diabetic Patients: A Meta-Analysis.

Background: Type 2 diabetes is a global health concern, with an increased prevalence and high cost of treatment.

Objective: The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to determine the effect of vitamin D supplementation and improved vitamin D status on glycemia and insulin resistance in type 2 diabetic patients.

Data Source: We searched PUBMED/Medline, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health, and Cochrane Library (until January 2017).

Clinical utility of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D in the diagnosis of insulin resistance and estimation of optimal 25-hydroxyvitamin D in U.S. adults.

Aims: To assess the clinical utility of measuring serum 25-hydroxyvitamin-D [25(OH)D] along with traditional risk factors in the diagnosis of insulin resistance (IR) and to estimate the optimal 25(OH)D level associated with normal glucose and insulin homeostasis.

Methods: A cross-sectional analysis of 6868 adults aged≥20years without diagnosed diabetes in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, with available standardized 25(OH)D data (2001-2010). IR was defined by the homeostatic-model-assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR; ≥75th percentile, sex-specific: 3.

Standardized serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations are inversely associated with cardiometabolic disease in U.S. adults: a cross-sectional analysis of NHANES, 2001-2010.

Background: Previously reported associations between vitamin D status, as measured by serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] concentrations, and cardiometabolic risk factors were largely limited by variability in 25(OH)D assay performance. In accordance with the Vitamin D Standardization Program, serum 25(OH)D measurement was recently standardized in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) to reduce laboratory and method related differences in serum 25(OH)D results. We evaluated the overall and ethnic-specific associations between the newly standardized serum 25(OH)D concentrations and cardiometabolic risk in U.

Vitamin D and cardiovascular disease: From atherosclerosis to myocardial infarction and stroke.

There continues to be interest in understanding the role of vitamin D in the pathogenesis, epidemiology and prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD). In fact vitamin D deficiency has been associated to an increased risk of developing CVD given to the relationship between low vitamin D levels and obesity, diabetes mellitus, dyslipidaemia, endothelial dysfunction and hypertension. However, although vitamin D has been identified as a potentially important marker of CVD, the mechanisms through which vitamin D deficiency leads from endothelial dysfunction to myocardial infarction and stroke are not fully understood.

Estimated economic benefit of increasing 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations of Canadians to or above 100 nmol/L.

Mounting evidence from observational and clinical trials indicates that optimal vitamin D reduces the risk of many diseases. We used observational studies and recent data on 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] concentrations of Canadians from Cycle 3 of the Canadian Health Measures Survey to estimate the reduction in disease incidence, mortality rates, and the total economic burden (direct plus indirect) of disease if 25(OH)D concentrations of all Canadians were raised to or above 100 nmol/L. Recently, the mean 25(OH)D concentration of Canadians varied depending on age and season (51-69 nmol/L), with an overall mean of 61 nmol/L.

Cholecalciferol plus calcium suppresses abnormal PBMC reactivity in patients with multiple sclerosis.

Context: The active metabolite of vitamin D, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D [1,25(OH)(2)D], is a potent modulator of immune cells in vitro.

Objective: Our objective was to determine whether the sun-dependent nutrient, cholecalciferol, can alter disease-associated cellular immune abnormalities in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS).

Design: This was an open-label, 12-month, randomized controlled trial.

The ratio of serum 24,25-dihydroxyvitamin D(3) to 25-hydroxyvitamin D(3) is predictive of 25-hydroxyvitamin D(3) response to vitamin D(3) supplementation.

24,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D (24,25VD) is a major catabolite of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25VD) metabolism, and may be physiologically active. Our objectives were to: (1) characterize the response of serum 24,25VD(3) to vitamin D(3) (VD(3)) supplementation; (2) test the hypothesis that a higher 24,25VD(3) to 25VD(3) ratio (24,25:25VD(3)) predicts 25VD(3) response. Serum samples (n=160) from wk 2 and wk 6 of a placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trial of VD(3) (28,000IU/wk) were analyzed for serum 24,25VD(3) and 25VD(3) by mass spectrometry.

Urinary calcium response to high dose vitamin D3 with calcium supplementation in patients with multiple sclerosis.

Objective: To characterize the effect of vitamin D(3) intake on urinary calcium:creatinine ratios across predefined ranges of serum 25(OH)D.

Design: Patients with multiple sclerosis (n=25) received escalating doses of vitamin D(3) (4000-40,000IU/d) with calcium (1200mg/d).

Results: Urinary calcium:creatinine was driven by increased 25(OH)D when concentrations were <75nmol/L (r=0.

Homozygous N396T mutation in Gaucher disease: Portuguese sisters with markedly different phenotypes.

Gaucher disease (GD) is characterized by reduced activity of glucocerebrosidase leading to complications in the reticuloendothelial system. N396T, a rarer mutation of the glucocerebrosidase gene, has been encountered in Portuguese populations and has generally been associated with milder phenotypes. This report presents brief histories of two Portuguese sisters, both with homozygous N396T mutations.