by Heather Granato

LYON, France-Taking vitamin D supplements may lower the risk of death from any cause, according to a new meta-analysis in the Sept. 10 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine (2007;167(16):1730-37). The study, conducted by Philippe Autier, M.D., from the International Agency for Research on Cancer, Lyon, and Sara Gadini, Ph.D., of the European Institute of Oncology, Milan, Italy, included 18 randomized controlled trials of vitamin D supplementation; the trials included 57,311 participants and evaluated doses of vitamin D ranging from 300 to 2,000 IU, with an average dose of 528 IU/d.

Over an average follow-up period of 5.7 years, 4,777 of the participants died. Those taking vitamin D had a 7-percent lower risk of death than those who did not, and their blood levels of vitamin D were 1.4- to 5.2-fold higher than those people not taking supplements. The authors said it was unclear how supplementation could decrease all-cause mortality, though they suggested it may inhibit carcinogenesis or boost immune function.

A related Archives editorial (2007;167(16):1709-10) by Edward Giovannucci, M.D., Harvard School of Public Health, said the meta-analysis increases the evidence base concerning vitamin D's benefits to human health. "Research on vitamin D should be continued to clearly elucidate the specific benefits and optimal intakes and levels of vitamin D," Giovannucci wrote. "Nonetheless, based on the total body of evidence of health conditions associated with vitamin D deficiency, abetted with the results from this meta-analysis, a more proactive attitude to identify, prevent and treat vitamin D deficiency should be part of standard medical care. From a broader public health perspective, the roles of moderate sun exposure, food fortification with vitamin D and higher-dose vitamin D supplements for adults need to be debated."

User Comments !

The case against ergocalciferol (vitamin D₂) as a vitamin supplement sets out the reasons why Cholecaciferol Vit D3 should always be the preferred choice.

Risk assessment for vitamin D explains the safety of Vitamin D at level up to 10,000iu/d suggests this as the safe upper limit, allowing a huge safety margin as 40,000iu/daily is actually needed for some time before hypercalcemia occurs.

The urgent need to recommend an intake of vitamin D that is effective shows us that 400iu raises Vit d status by around 9nmol/l. As UK adults average 40nmol/L and 137.5nmol/L is associated with lowest cancer incidence most UK adults will require far more Vitamin D than suggested by this article.