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Effect of vitamin D supplementation on vitamin D status and bone turnover markers in young adults

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 60, pages 727–733 (2006)Cite this article

Abstract

Objective:

To assess the vitamin D status of healthy young people living in Northern Ireland and the effect of vitamin D supplementation on vitamin D status and bone turnover.

Design:

Double-blinded randomised controlled intervention study.

Setting:

University of Ulster, Coleraine, Northern Ireland.

Subjects:

In total, 30 apparently healthy students (15 male and 15 female subjects), aged 18–27 years, were recruited from the university, with 27 completing the intervention.

Interventions:

Subjects were randomly assigned, to receive either 15 μg (600 IU) vitamin D3 and 1500 mg calcium/day (vitamin D group), or 1500 mg calcium/day (control group) for 8 weeks between January and March. Vitamin D status, bone turnover markers, serum calcium and parathyroid hormone concentrations were measured at baseline and post intervention.

Results:

At baseline, vitamin D status was low in both the vitamin D group (47.9 (s.d. 16.0)) and the control group (55.5 (s.d. 18.6) nmol/l 25(OH)D). Post intervention vitamin D status was significantly higher in the vitamin D-treated group (86.5 (s.d. 24.5)) compared to the control group (48.3 (s.d. 16.8) nmol/l) (P<0.0001). There was no significant effect of supplementation on bone turnover markers or PTH concentrations.

Conclusions:

This study suggests that young adults in Northern Ireland do not consume an adequate daily dietary intake of vitamin D to maintain plasma vitamin D concentrations in the wintertime. A daily supplement of 15 μg vitamin D3 significantly increased vitamin D status in these individuals to levels of sufficiency. Achievement of an optimum vitamin D status among young adults may have future positive health implications.

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Acknowledgements

We wish to thank the technical staff, especially Mr Jimmy Coulter, in the School of Biomedical Sciences at the University of Ulster, for technical assistance and to Mr David Wright, Antrim Area Hospital, Clinical Chemistry Laboratory, for analysis of PTH. Also many thanks to Anne-Marie Doohan for her assistance with the analysis of dietary intakes.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Northern Ireland Centre for Food and Health (NICHE), University of Ulster, Coleraine, Northern Ireland, UK

    M S Barnes, P J Robson, M P Bonham, J J Strain & J M W Wallace

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  1. M S Barnes
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  3. M P Bonham
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Correspondence to J M W Wallace.

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Guarantor: JMW Wallace.

Contributors: MSB was responsible for study design, execution, data analysis and preparation of the paper. PR, MPB and JW assisted with study design, data analysis and commented on the paper. JS edited and commented on the paper.

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Barnes, M., Robson, P., Bonham, M. et al. Effect of vitamin D supplementation on vitamin D status and bone turnover markers in young adults. Eur J Clin Nutr 60, 727–733 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ejcn.1602374

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