Questions about vitamin D for primary care practice: input from an NIH conference.
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
11-1-2015
Institution/Department
Translational Research; MMCRI
Journal Title
The American journal of medicine.
MeSH Headings
Clinical Decision-Making, Dietary Supplements, Evidence-Based Medicine, Humans, National Institutes of Health (U.S.), Primary Health Care, United States, Vitamin D, Vitamin D Deficiency, Vitamins
Abstract
There is considerable consumer and physician interest in vitamin D as a possible therapeutic agent for a range of clinical conditions and, despite mixed evidence, the interest does not appear to lessen. Some clinicians believe that consumption of vitamin D is inadequate and, in turn, advocate vitamin D supplementation to increase serum levels of the nutrient. However, evidence concerning the role of vitamin D in health and disease is conflicting, and primary care physicians have little time to sort through the data and may find it difficult to advise their patients. To better understand the challenges that primary care physicians face regarding vitamin D, and to help inform those who provide guidance for clinical decision-making, the Office of Dietary Supplements at the National Institutes of Health, with co-sponsorship from other federal health agencies, held a conference titled Vitamin D: Moving Toward Evidence-based Decision Making in Primary Care in December 2014. More than 20 invited presenters and panelists considered laboratory methods for measuring vitamin D status, discussed how clinical studies of vitamin D should be evaluated and used in developing recommendations, noted the role of values and preferences in clinical decision-making, debated the current science related to at-risk groups, and described emerging data about health risks of excessive intakes of vitamin D. Eight questions about vitamin D stem from the Conference presentations as well as other expert sources.
ISSN
1555-7162
First Page
1167
Last Page
1170
Recommended Citation
Taylor, Christine L; Thomas, Paul R; Aloia, John F; Millard, Peter S; and Rosen, Clifford J, "Questions about vitamin D for primary care practice: input from an NIH conference." (2015). MaineHealth Maine Medical Center. 659.
https://knowledgeconnection.mainehealth.org/mmc/659