In northern counties such as Canada relative vitamin D deficiency is much more common than is often appreciated, with the attendant risk of reduced bone density and, over time, fracture. This is especially true as people become more sun-phobic with respect to risk of skin cancer. Having a 25-hydroxycholecalciferol concentration above 80 nmol/ml (30 ng/ml) is important in ensuring optimal calcium absorption and utilization. The preventive benefits of supplemental vitamin D for the general population demonstrated to date have primarily been related to bone effects, i.e. the provision of the supplement has been shown to reduce the rate of bone loss and decrease the risk of fracture. There are also a number of metabolic disorders such as familial hypophosphatemia and hypophosphatemia due to Fanconi’s syndrome for which vitamin D supplementation is effective.

With respect to non-bone effects, while this is very controversial, it’s been suggested that vitamin D deficiency may be related to peripheral artery disease, hypertension, Parkinson’s disease, certain autoimmune diseases and increased susceptibility to infections. Whether in fact this is true, and if these problems can be addressed in full or in part by vitamin D supplementation remains to be determined. Of great interest is recent work suggesting vitamin D supplementation may reduce the risk of cancer, which has prompted the Canadian Cancer Society to suggest that people should take 1,000 IU of the vitamin during winter months in consultation with their healthcare provider.

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