For instance, in the Netherlands, about 50% of community-dwelling elderly has a vitamin D deficiency, which has led to standard supplementation guidelines for elderly.
The rate of cutaneous vitamin D synthesis is reduced in elderly, and therefore they are at risk for vitamin D deficiencies. The most important source of vitamin D is the skin, which can produce vitamin D from 7-dehydrocholesterol during exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Vitamin D is an essential micronutrient that has several functions, such as the formation of bone tissue and absorption of calcium from the gastrointestinal tract. Lower age, lower BMI, higher alcohol intake and more outdoor physical activity had a significant association with vitamin D status. In physically active elderly, vitamin D status was very high in summertime, with few deficiencies, suggesting that elderly with a physical active lifestyle might not necessarily need supplements during the summer period. Dietary intake of vitamin D was 4.0 ± 1.9 µg/day, and the participants spent 12.4 ± 8.6 h/week on outdoor activities. Only 2% of the participants had a 25(OH)D concentration below 50 nmol/L. The average summertime serum 25(OH)D concentration was 88.8 ± 22.4 nmol/L. Vitamin D status of 450 physically active elderly who do not use vitamin D supplements was determined and information on possible determinants (demographic, dietary intake and physical activity) was collected around a prolonged four day walking event in July and analyzed in linear regression models.
Although determinants of vitamin D status have been studied in various populations, this has not been examined in elderly that have a physically active lifestyle.
Identification of determinants of vitamin D status may provide leads for specific deficiency prevention strategies. Vitamin D deficiencies are common in elderly, which increases the risk for, e.g., bone fractures.
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