Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Vitamin D Effects on Bone Structure in Childhood and Aging

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Nutritional Influences on Bone Health

  • 1037 Accesses

Abstract

Puberty is a critical period for bone mineral accretion. Cross-sectional, prospective, and intervention studies have shown a positive association between vitamin D status and bone mass in adolescent girls aged up to 16 years. Such an association was not observed in studies in prepubertal children, older adolescents, and young adults, indicating that vitamin D is more important during pubertal years when there is greater demand for calcium to meet the mineralization requirement of the growing skeleton. In older adults, a number of cross-sectional studies have shown that higher 25(OH)D levels were related to higher bone mass. Intervention studies of vitamin D alone have only shown effects in older subjects and those with low vitamin D status. Short-term studies comparing supplementation with both calcium and vitamin D and calcium alone have shown conflicting results, but a long-term 5-year study in elderly Australian women has shown that the effects of calcium and vitamin D but not calcium alone on hip BMD were maintained at 5 years. In conclusion, maintaining adequate vitamin D status should be recommended throughout life for the maintenance of bone health.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 84.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 129.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Lips P. Vitamin D deficiency and secondary hyperparathyroidism in the elderly: consequences for bone loss and fractures and therapeutic implications. Endocr Rev. 2001;22:477-501.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Hollis BW. Assessment of vitamin D nutritional and hormonal status: what to measure and how to do it. Calcif Tissue Int. 1996;58:4-5.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Norman AW, Bouillon R, Whiting SJ, Vieth R, Lips P. 13th Workshop consensus for vitamin D nutritional guidelines. J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol. 2007;103:204-205.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Dawson-Hughes B, Heaney RP, Holick MF, Lips P, Meunier PJ, Vieth R. Estimates of optimal vitamin D status. Osteoporos Int. 2005;16:713-716.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Cashman KD, Hill TR, Cotter AA, et al. Low vitamin D status adversely affects bone health parameters in adolescents. Am J Clin Nutr. 2008;87:1039-1044.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Oliveri MB, Wittich A, Mautalen C, Chaperon A, Kizlansky A. Peripheral bone mass is not affected by winter vitamin D deficiency in children and young adults from Ushuaia. Calcif Tissue Int. 2000;67:220-224.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Kristinsson JO, Valdimarsson O, Sigurdsson G, Franzson L, Olafsson I, Steingrimsdottir L. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels and bone mineral density in 16-20 years-old girls: lack of association. J Intern Med. 1998;243:381-388.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Outila TA, Karkkainen MU, Lamberg-Allardt CJ. Vitamin D status affects serum parathyroid hormone concentrations during winter in female adolescents: associations with forearm bone mineral density. Am J Clin Nutr. 2001;74:206-210.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Lehtonen-Veromaa MK, Mottonen TT, Nuotio IO, Irjala KM, Leino AE, Viikari JS. Vitamin D and attainment of peak bone mass among peripubertal Finnish girls: a 3-y prospective study. Am J Clin Nutr. 2002;76:1446-1453.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Cheng S, Tylavsky F, Kroger H, et al. Association of low 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations with elevated parathyroid hormone concentrations and low cortical bone density in early pubertal and prepubertal Finnish girls. Am J Clin Nutr. 2003;78:485-492.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Foo LH, Zhang Q, Zhu K, et al. Low vitamin D status has an adverse influence on bone mass, bone turnover, and muscle strength in Chinese adolescent girls. J Nutr. 2009;139:1002-1007.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Lehtonen-Veromaa M, Mottonen T, Nuotio I, Irjala K, Viikari J. The effect of conventional vitamin D(2) supplementation on serum 25(OH)D concentration is weak among peripubertal Finnish girls: a 3-y prospective study. Eur J Clin Nutr. 2002;56:431-437.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Du X, Zhu K, Trube A, et al. School-milk intervention trial enhances growth and bone mineral accretion in Chinese girls aged 10-12 years in Beijing. Br J Nutr. 2004;92:159-168.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Du X, Zhu K, Trube A, et al. Effects of school-milk intervention on growth and bone mineral accretion in Chinese girls aged 10-12 years: accounting for cluster ransomisation. Br J Nutr. 2005;94:1038-1039.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Zhu K, Du X, Cowell CT, et al. Effects of school milk intervention on cortical bone accretion and indicators relevant to bone metabolism in Chinese girls aged 10-12 y in Beijing. Am J Clin Nutr. 2005;81:1168-1175.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Zhu K, Zhang Q, Foo LH, et al. Growth, bone mass, and vitamin D status of Chinese adolescent girls 3 y after withdrawal of milk supplementation. Am J Clin Nutr. 2006;83:714-721.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Abrams SA, Copeland KC, Gunn SK, Stuff JE, Clarke LL, Ellis KJ. Calcium absorption and kinetics are similar in 7- and 8-year-old Mexican-American and Caucasian girls despite hormonal differences. J Nutr. 1999;129:666-671.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Abrams SA, O’Brien KO, Liang LK, Stuff JE. Differences in calcium absorption and kinetics between black and white girls aged 5-16 years. J Bone Miner Res. 1995;10:829-833.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Lee WT, Jiang J, Hu P, Hu X, Roberts DC, Cheng JC. Use of stable calcium isotopes (42Ca & 44Ca) in evaluation of calcium absorption in Beijing adolescents with low vitamin D status. Food Nutr Bull. 2002;23:42-47.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Ginty F, Cavadini C, Michaud PA, et al. Effects of usual nutrient intake and vitamin D status on markers of bone turnover in Swiss adolescents. Eur J Clin Nutr. 2004;58:1257-1265.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Foo LH, Zhang Q, Zhu K, et al. Relationship between vitamin D status, body composition and physical exercise of adolescent girls in Beijing. Osteoporos Int. 2009;20:417-425.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Guillemant J, Cabrol S, Allemandou A, Peres G, Guillemant S. Vitamin D-dependent seasonal variation of PTH in growing male adolescents. Bone. 1995;17:513-516.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Cadogan J, Blumsohn A, Barker ME, Eastell R. A longitudinal study of bone gain in pubertal girls: anthropometric and biochemical correlates. J Bone Miner Res. 1998;13:1602-1612.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Gordon CM, DePeter KC, Feldman HA, Grace E, Emans SJ. Prevalence of vitamin D deficiency among healthy adolescents. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2004;158:531-537.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Looker AC, Dawson-Hughes B, Calvo MS, Gunter EW, Sahyoun NR. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D status of adolescents and adults in two seasonal subpopulations from NHANES III. Bone. 2002;30:771-777.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Ooms ME, Lips P, Roos JC, et al. Vitamin D status and sex hormone binding globulin: determinants of bone turnover and bone mineral density in elderly women. J Bone Miner Res. 1995;10:1177-1184.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Bischoff-Ferrari HA, Dietrich T, Orav EJ, Dawson-Hughes B. Positive association between 25-hydroxy vitamin D levels and bone mineral density: a population-based study of younger and older adults. Am J Med. 2004;116:634-639.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Bischoff-Ferrari HA, Kiel DP, Dawson-Hughes B, et al. Dietary calcium and serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D status in relation to BMD among U.S. adults. J Bone Miner Res. 2009;24:935-942.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Hunter D, Major P, Arden N, et al. A randomized controlled trial of vitamin D supplementation on preventing postmenopausal bone loss and modifying bone metabolism using identical twin pairs. J Bone Miner Res. 2000;15:2276-2283.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Ebeling PR, Wark JD, Yeung S, et al. Effects of calcitriol or calcium on bone mineral density, bone turnover, and fractures in men with primary osteoporosis: a two-year randomized, double blind, double placebo study. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2001;86:4098-4103.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. Peacock M, Liu G, Carey M, et al. Effect of calcium or 25OH vitamin D3 dietary supplementation on bone loss at the hip in men and women over the age of 60 [see comments]. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2000;85:3011-3019.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. Ooms ME, Roos JC, Bezemer PD, van der Vijgh WJ, Bouter LM, Lips P. Prevention of bone loss by vitamin D supplementation in elderly women: a randomized double-blind trial. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1995;80:1052-1058.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. Kantorovich V, Gacad MA, Seeger LL, Adams JS. Bone mineral density increases with vitamin D repletion in patients with coexistent vitamin D insufficiency and primary hyperparathyroidism. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2000;85:3541-3543.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  34. Dawson-Hughes B, Harris SS, Krall EA, Dallal GE. Effect of calcium and vitamin D supplementation on bone density in men and women 65 years of age or older. N Engl J Med. 1997;337:670-676.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  35. Meier C, Woitge HW, Witte K, Lemmer B, Seibel MJ. Supplementation with oral vitamin D3 and calcium during winter prevents seasonal bone loss: a randomized controlled open-label prospective trial. J Bone Miner Res. 2004;19:1221-1230.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  36. Dawson-Hughes B, Dallal GE, Krall EA, Harris S, Sokoll LJ, Falconer G. Effect of vitamin D supplementation on wintertime and overall bone loss in healthy postmenopausal women. Ann Intern Med. 1991;115:505-512.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  37. Aloia JF, Talwar SA, Pollack S, Yeh J. A randomized controlled trial of vitamin D3 supplementation in African American women. Arch Intern Med. 2005;165:1618-1623.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  38. Zhu K, Bruce D, Austin N, Devine A, Ebeling PR, Prince RL. Randomized controlled trial of the effects of calcium with or without vitamin D on bone structure and bone-related chemistry in elderly women with vitamin D insufficiency. J Bone Miner Res. 2008;23:1343-1348.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  39. Zhu K, Devine A, Dick IM, Wilson SG, Prince RL. Effects of calcium and vitamin D supplementation on hip bone mineral density and calcium-related analytes in elderly ambulatory Australian women: a five-year randomized controlled trial. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2008;93:743-749.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  40. Heaney RP, Dowell MS, Hale CA, Bendich A. Calcium absorption varies within the reference range for serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D. J Am Coll Nutr. 2003;22:142-146.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  41. MacLaughlin J, Holick MF. Aging decreases the capacity of human skin to produce vitamin D3. J Clin Invest. 1985;76:1536-1538.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  42. Bischoff-Ferrari HA, Dawson-Hughes B, Willett WC, et al. Effect of Vitamin D on falls: a meta-analysis. JAMA. 2004;291:1999-2006.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  43. Bischoff-Ferrari HA, Willett WC, Wong JB, Giovannucci E, Dietrich T, Dawson-Hughes B. Fracture prevention with vitamin D supplementation: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. JAMA. 2005;293:2257-2264.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Endocrinology and Diabetes, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Hospital Avenue, Nedlands, WA, 6152, Australia

    Kun Zhu

Authors
  1. Kun Zhu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Richard L. Prince
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Kun Zhu .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. University Hospital CHUV, Lausanne, 1006, Switzerland

    Peter Burckhardt

  2. Tufts University Boston, USDA Human Nutrition Research Centre on, 711 Washington Street, Boston, 02111, USA

    Bess Dawson-Hughes

  3. , Foods and Nutrition, Purdue University, 700 W. State Street, West Lafayette, 47907, USA

    Connie Weaver

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2011 Springer London

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Zhu, K., Prince, R.L. (2011). Vitamin D Effects on Bone Structure in Childhood and Aging. In: Burckhardt, P., Dawson-Hughes, B., Weaver, C. (eds) Nutritional Influences on Bone Health. Springer, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-84882-978-7_18

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-84882-978-7_18

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, London

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-84882-977-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-84882-978-7

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation