Abstract
Calcium and vitamin D is an important component of the human health. Vitamin D severe deficiency can lead to musculoskeletal diseases such as osteomalacia and rickets.
Vitamin D deficiency and/or low calcium intake is associated with secondary hyperparathyroidism which accelerates rate of age-related bone loss and increases risk of low impact fractures. In subject who fail to meet the recommended target serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations (50-75 nmol/l), daily supplementation with vitamin D of 20 µg (800 international units) and 800-1 000 mg calcium (preferentially by diet) may prevent skeletal as well as some extraskeletal diseases.
However, intake of calcium and vitamin D supplements is limited by relatively poor adherence and potential for overdosing. Systematic vitamin D food fortification could be an effective approach to improve vitamin D status in the general population.