Vitamin D and Calcium: a Systematic Review of Health Outcomes: Evidence Report / Technology Assessment Number 183

The Tufts Evidence-based Practice Center (EPC) conducted a systematic review of the scientific literature on vitamin D and calcium intakes as related to status indicators and health outcomes. The purpose of this report is to guide the nutrition recommendations of the Institute of Medicine (IOM) Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs). In September 2007, the IOM held a conference to examine the lessons learned from developing DRIs, and future challenges and best practices for developing DRIs. The conference concluded that systematic reviews would enhance the transparency and rigor of DRI committee deliberations. With this framework in mind, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality?s (AHRQ) EPC program invited the Tufts EPC to perform the systematic review of vitamin D and calcium. In May and September 2007, two conferences were held on the effect of vitamin D on health. Subsequently, a working group of US and Canadian government scientists convened to determine whether enough new research had been published since the 1997 vitamin D DRI to justify an update. Upon reviewing the conference proceedings and results from a recent systematic review, the group concluded that sufficient new data beyond bone health had been published. Areas of possible relevance included new data on bone health for several of the lifestage groups, reports on potential adverse effects, dose-response relations between intakes and circulating 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH) D] concentrations and between 25(OH) D concentrations and several health outcomes. This report includes a systematic review of health outcomes relating to vitamin D and calcium intakes, both alone and in combination.