Vitamin D Supplementation

Question 1

What groups of people should be advised to take vitamin D supplements?

Answer 1

• Pregnant and breastfeeding daily supplement containing 10mcg of vitamin D
• Children aged 6 months - 5 years.
• Babies fed with formula milk do not need to take a supplement if they are taking more than 500ml of milk a day (formula milk is fortified with vitamin D)
• Adults > 65 years
• ‘People who are not exposed to much sun should also take a daily supplement’

Question 2

Who do NOS (National Osteoporosis Society) recommend we test for a low Vitamin D?

Answer 2

• Patients with bone diseases that may be improved with vitamin D treatment (e.g. known osteomalacia or Paget’s disease)
• Patients with bone diseases, prior to specific treatment where correcting vitamin deficiency is appropriate e,g, prior to intravenous zolendronate or denosumab
• Patients with musculoskeletal symptoms that could be attributed to vitamin D deficiency e.g. bone pain ?osteomalacia

Question 3

Should we test vitamin D on osteoporosis patients?

Answer 3

No, they should always be given a calcium/vitamin D supplement anyways.

Question 4

Why should we not test for patients in the high risk groups (see the treatment slide)?

Answer 4

Because they are going to be receiving treatment anyways.