Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D and functional outcomes in the elderly.

The objective of this article was to consider key evidence that treatment of vitamin D insufficiency has measurable clinical benefits for the musculoskeletal system in the elderly. The functional outcomes considered were increased bone mass, decreased rates of bone loss, improved muscle performance, reduced risk of falls, and reduced fracture incidence. Available evidence suggests that the elderly need a mean serum concentration of >/=65 nmol/L of vitamin D to improve muscle performance and reduce the risk of falling and >/=75 nmol/L to reduce the risk of fracture. Many elderly persons in the United States and elsewhere have serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations below these levels. For this reason, supplementation is likely to provide significant benefit to this segment of the population.