Vitamin D Deficiency Is Common Among Older Adults, Study Finds

New research finds vitamin D deficiency surprisingly common among older adults, especially those in poor health, and concludes that even a daily multivitamin may not provide enough of this essential nutrient. A study of patients at a Boston hospital, reported today in the New England Journal of Medicine, found that more than half had too little vitamin D in their bodies, a condition that increases the risk of bone fractures and may have other ill effects, as well.

The body makes vitamin D naturally from exposure to sunlight. However, people who stay inside a lot, especially in the winter, may not produce enough vitamin D to keep bones healthy. The principal way of making up for too little sunlight is to take multivitamins and to use milk and cereal that are fortified with vitamin D. However, the researchers were surprised to find that one-third of those who said they consumed the recommended amounts from these sources were still vitamin D deficient.

Compiled by Times medical writer Thomas H. Maugh II