Objective: The objective was to provide guidelines to clinicians for the evaluation, treatment, and prevention of vitamin D deficiency with an emphasis on the care of patients who are at risk for deficiency.
Participants: The Task Force was composed of a Chair, six additional experts, and a methodologist. The Task Force received no corporate funding or remuneration.
Consensus Process: Consensus was guided by systematic reviews of evidence and discussions during several conference calls and e-mail communications. Thedraftpreparedby the Task Forcewas reviewed successively by The Endocrine Society’s Clinical Guidelines Subcommittee, Clinical Affairs Core Committee, and cosponsoring associations, anditwas posted on The Endocrine Societyweb site formember review. At each stage of review, the Task Force received written comments and incorporated needed changes.
Conclusions:Considering that vitaminDdeficiencyis very commonin all agegroups and that few foods contain vitamin D, the Task Force recommended supplementation at suggested daily intake and tolerable upper limit levels, depending on age and clinical circumstances. The Task Force also suggested the measurement of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D level by a reliable assay as the initial diagnostic test in patients at risk for deficiency. Treatment with either vitamin D2or vitamin D3 was recommended for deficient patients. At the present time, there is not sufficient evidence to recommend screening individuals who are not at risk for deficiency or to prescribe vitamin D to attain the noncalcemic benefit for cardiovascular protection