Vitamin D in the form of vitamin D(3 ) seems to decrease mortality in predominantly elderly women who are mainly in institutions and dependent care .
Vitamin D(2 ) , alfacalcidol , and calcitriol had no statistically significant effect on mortality .
Vitamin D(3 ) combined with calcium significantly increased nephrolithiasis .
Both alfacalcidol and calcitriol significantly increased hypercalcaemia
BACKGROUND The available evidence on vitamin D and mortality is inconclusive .
OBJECTIVES To assess the beneficial and harmful effects of vitamin D for prevention of mortality in adults .
The effects of a 30-month dietary intervention on bone mineral density: the Postmenopausal Health Study.
Low dietary Ca intake and vitamin D insufficiency have been implicated as part of the aetiology leading to osteoporosis . The aim of the present study was to examine the effects of a 30-month dietary intervention that combined supplementation of dairy products fortified with Ca and vitamin D3 and lifestyle and nutrition counselling sessions on  bone mineral density ( BMD )  of postmenopausal women . Sixty-six postmenopausal women ( aged 55 - 65 years ) were r and omised into a dietary group ( DG ; n 35 ) , receiving daily and for the first 12 months 1200 mg Ca and 7.5 microg vitamin D3 , while for the next 18 months of intervention 1200 mg Ca and 22.5 microg vitamin D3 through fortified dairy products , and a control group ( CG ; n 31 ) receiving neither counselling nor dairy products . The DG was found to have more favourable changes in arms ( P < 0.001 ) , total spine ( P = 0.001 ) and total body BMD ( P < 0.001 ) compared with the CG . Furthermore , a significant increase was observed for the DG in lumbar spine BMD ( 0.056 ; 95 % CI 0.009 , 0.103 ) , which was not found to differentiate significantly compared with the change observed in the CG ( P = 0.075 ) . In conclusion , the present study showed that intakes of vitamin D of about 22.5 microg/d and of Ca close to the recommended level of 1200 mg from fortified dairy foods for 30 months , with compliance ensured by lifestyle and nutrition counselling sessions , can induce favourable changes in arms , total spine and total body BMD of postmenopausal women
Vitamin D in the form of vitamin D(3 ) seems to decrease mortality in predominantly elderly women who are mainly in institutions and dependent care .
Vitamin D(2 ) , alfacalcidol , and calcitriol had no statistically significant effect on mortality .
Vitamin D(3 ) combined with calcium significantly increased nephrolithiasis .
Both alfacalcidol and calcitriol significantly increased hypercalcaemia
BACKGROUND The available evidence on vitamin D and mortality is inconclusive .
OBJECTIVES To assess the beneficial and harmful effects of vitamin D for prevention of mortality in adults .