It has become increasingly recognized that low vitamin D levels are prevalent worldwide and to a more severe degree in the Middle East. Low vitamin D levels are associated with an increased risk of osteoporotic fractures, and of chronic conditions such as autoimmune disorders, diabetes, cancer, and the metabolic syndrome. Obese individuals are more likely to have low vitamin D levels, and in some studies obesity was a risk factor for fractures in both the young and elderly. Our group has investigated the impact of vitamin D therapy in the young, and preliminary data suggest that doses exceeding the currently updated recommended estimated average requirement (EAR) of 400IU for that age group may be more beneficial for bone health. The updated EAR recommendations by the IOM for any age group, although believed to cover the needs of all individuals in each age group, are limited by the lack of good evidence supporting such recommendations. Therefore, to-date, the optimal dose of vitamin D for both the young and elderly is unknown.

Two hundred and fifty elderly (age≥65 years), overweight (BMI ≥25kg/m2) non-diabetic individuals, will be recruited through outpatient clinics that investigators may have access to at American University of Beirut-Medical Center (AUB-MC), Hotel Dieu de France (HDF) and Rafic Hariri University Hospital (RHUH), and will be randomized after a pre-screen, in a double-blinded fashion, to receive 500 IU or the equivalent of 3357 IU of vitamin D3 daily for one year. Clinical information, exercise questionnaires will be obtained at 0 and 12 months.In addition, subjects partaking in the original study will be offered the option to participate in the validity and reliability study of a food frequency questionnaire to assess dietary intakes of Ca, vitamins D and K, and to participate in the vascular study evaluating the relation of the above nutrients with vascular parameters. Information on educational level, insurance status, dietary, sunscreen use, sun exposure and skin pigmentation will be obtained at baseline. Information on falls, trauma, history of fractures and medications will be obtained at each visit (0, 3, 6 and 12 months). The measurement of height, weight, BMI, waist, hip, waist/hip ratio, mid arm circumference, mid-calf circumference and muscle strength of the subject, enrolled in the study, will be triplicated on each visit at 0,3,6 and 12 months. Blood pressure and heart rate will be measured at screening, baseline, 3 months, 6 months and 12 months. Blood will be drawn at baseline, 3, 6 and 12 months for measurement of serum creatinine, calcium, phosphorous, alkaline phosphatase, 25-OHD, 1,25(OH)2D, PTH, indices of bone remodeling (osteocalcin and crosslaps), and a second morning void urine specimen will be collected for Ca/Cr. Insulin resistance will be measured using the McAuley as well as HOMA and QUCKI indices. We will also measure serum levels of adipokines (adiponectin, leptin), DLK1-Pref1, inflammatory markers (CRP, IL-6) and adhesion molecules (sICAM, sVCAM). We will characterize polymorphisms of genes affecting mineral metabolism such as VDR, CaSR,ER and CYP2R1, and will measure adiponectin R expression from subcutaneous fat and muscle biopsies that will be obtained at 0 and 12 months.Bone density scans of Lumbar Spine, Femoral Neck, Total Hip, Total Body, Sub Total Body, body composition and hip structural analyses parameters as well as TBS variables for the spine will be obtained at the baseline and at 12 months of the study. A visit at 9 months will be scheduled to supply subjects with Ci-cal D and Euro D, and to ensure compliance. IRB approval and consent forms will be obtained. An independent Data and Safety Monitoring Board will be asked to review serious adverse events and if needed may be asked to review unblinded data at recruitment of 30%, 60% and 100% of study subjects and of serious adverse events forms throughout the study duration.Repeated measures analyses will be used to evaluate differences in outcomes of interest between the two treatment groups and time effect within each treatment arm.