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The Necessity and Safety of Calcium and Vitamin D in the Elderly
Author(s) -
Honkanen Risto,
Alhava Esko,
Parviainen Markku,
Talasniemi Sakari,
Mönkkönen Raija
Publication year - 1990
Publication title -
journal of the american geriatrics society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.992
H-Index - 232
eISSN - 1532-5415
pISSN - 0002-8614
DOI - 10.1111/j.1532-5415.1990.tb05700.x
Subject(s) - medicine , vitamin d and neurology , creatinine , regimen , calcium , population , vitamin , endocrinology , gastroenterology , environmental health
The necessity and safety of an oral calcium (Ca) and vitamin D regimen was evaluated in a population of 66 independently living and 73 institutionalized elderly women over an 11‐week winter period. The members of both groups were randomly assigned into trial and control groups. Serum Ca, creatinine, and calcidiol levels were measured before and after the trial. The regimen consisted of 1.558 g of Ca and 45 μg (equal to 1,800 IU) of vitamin D administered daily in addition to the normal diet. The controls received no treatment. A majority of the elderly subjects living independently had ensured their Ca, and a quarter of them also their vitamin D intake on their own initiative. The mean serum calcidiol concentration before the trial was 24.1 nmol/L in the institutionalized and 38.5 nmol/L in the elderly subjects living independently (P < .001). After the trial, serum calcidiol was 10.4 nmol/L in the institutionalized control subjects and had decreased (P < .001) in both control groups, but increased (P < .001) in both treatment groups. The safety indicators, serum Ca, creatinine, and calcidiol, did not indicate any group or individual side effect.