ODS Vitamin D Initiative
Table of Contents
Overview
The Office of Dietary Supplements (ODS) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) leads and sponsors several efforts to advance scientific understanding of the importance of vitamin D to health. These efforts have included:
- measurement of vitamin D levels in foods;
- assessment of vitamin D status of the U.S. population;
- development of a reference measurement procedure and standard reference materials to precisely measure this nutrient;
- systematic review of scientific literature used in updating the vitamin D recommended dietary allowances and safe levels of intake; and
- an international effort to standardize measurement of serum vitamin D levels in populations around the world (see Vitamin D Standardization Program)
ODS also sponsors conferences and workshops on vitamin D and leads a federal working group on this nutrient to identify and help meet research needs.
ODS Vitamin D Fact Sheets
ODS has vitamin D fact sheets in two versions—Health Professional and QuickFacts. The QuickFacts version is available in both English and Spanish.
As part of its Vitamin D Initiative, NIH Office of Dietary Supplements established the Vitamin D Standardization Program (VDSP) in November 2010. ODS is leading a collaborative effort with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention(CDC) and the National Institute for Standards and Technology (NIST) to standardize the laboratory measurement of vitamin D status in national health surveys worldwide. This collaboration includes the creation in the CDC of the Vitamin D Standardization Coordinating Center. Standardization is essential to improve the detection, evaluation, and treatment of vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency by making measurements of serum total 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] accurate and comparable over time, location, and laboratory procedure.
Since the inception of this program, ODS has enlisted the participation of national health surveys from Australia, Canada, Germany, Ireland, Mexico, South Korea, the United Kingdom, and the U.S. Two international planning meetings took place in 2011. Completion of the first round of vitamin D standardization for all eight national surveys and the participating assay manufacturers will take place in 2012 . An international meeting to present those initial results is tentatively planned for the first quarter of 2013.
Objectives of the VDSP over the next 2 to 3 years are to:
- Standardize the measurement of serum total 25(OH)D in national health surveys by linking them to the NIST reference measurement procedure;
- Study similarities and differences in total 25(OH)D among national health surveys;
- Expand standardization services from national surveys to include assay manufacturers and clinical and research laboratories; and,
- Enable the use of standardized data in public health activities and patient care.
Vitamin D Resources for Researchers
We've collected useful vitamin D resources from our office and other federal government offices to provide to researchers, including our Vitamin D Health Professional Fact Sheet, NIH conference proceedings, Standard Reference Material®, evidence-based reviews, and other publications.
Conference Proceedings
Standard Reference Material®
Evidence-based Reviews
- Vitamin D and Calcium: Systematic Review of Health Outcomes
August 2009
Chung M, Balk E, Brendel M, Ip S, Lau J, Lee J, Lichtenstein A, Patel K, Raman G, Tatsioni A, Terasawa T, Trikalinos T. Evidence Report/Technology Assessment No. 183. (Prepared by: Tufts Evidence-based Practice Center, Boston, MA under Contract No. 290-2007-10055-I) AHRQ Publication No. 07-E015, Rockville, MD: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.
- Effectiveness and Safety of Vitamin D in Relation to Bone Health
August 2007
Cranney A, Horsely T, O'Donnell S, Weiler H, Puil L, Ooi D, Atkinson S, Ward L, Moher D, Hanley D, Fang M, Yazdi F, Garrity C, Sampson M, Barrowman N, Tsertsvadze A, Mamaladze V. Evidence Report/Technology Assessment No. 158. (Prepared by Ottawa Evidence-based Practice Center, Ottawa, Canada under Contract No. 290-02-0021). AHRQ Publication No. 07-E013, Rockville, MD: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.
Other Publications
- Vitamin D status as an international issue: National surveys and the problem of standardization.
April 2012
Sempos CT, Vesper HW, Phinney KW, Thienpont LM, Coates PM, and The Vitamin D Standardization Program (VDSP). Vitamin D status as an international issue: National surveys and the problem of standardization. Scand J Clin Lab Invest Suppl. 2012 Apr;243:32-40.
- Standardization of measurements of 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 and D2.
April 2012
Thienpont LM, Stepman HC, Vesper HW. Standardization of measurements of 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 and D2. Scand J Clin Lab Invest Suppl. 2012 Apr;243:41-9.
- Development and certification of a standard reference material for vitamin D metabolites in human serum.
December 2011
Phinney K, Bedner M, Tai SS, Vamathevan V, Sander LC, Sharpless KE, Wise SA, Yen JH, Schleicher RL, Chaudhary-Webb M, Pfeiffer CM, Betz JM, Coates PM, Picciano MF. Development and certification of a standard reference material for vitamin D metabolites in human serum. Anal Chem. 2011 Dec 5.
- Vitamin D in pregnancy and lactation in humans.
August 2011
Brannon PM, Picciano MF. Vitamin D in pregnancy and lactation in humans. Annu Rev Nutr. 2011 Aug 21;31:89-115.
- Isotope dilution ultra performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method for simultaneous measurement of 25-hydroxyvitamin D2, 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 and 3-epi-25-hydroxyvitamin D3 in human serum.
August 2011
Schleicher RL, Encisco SE, Chaudhary-Webb M, Paliakov E, McCoy LF, Pfeiffer CM. Isotope dilution ultra performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method for simultaneous measurement of 25-hydroxyvitamin D2, 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 and 3-epi-25-hydroxyvitamin D3 in human serum. Clin Chim Acta. 2011 Aug 17;412(17-18):1594-9. Epub 2011 May 13.
- Notice of Vitamin D Standardization Program
March 2, 2011
Federal Register/Vol. 76, No. 41/Wednesday, March 2, 2011/Notices
[FR Doc. 2011-4603 Filed 3-1-11]
- Vitamin D status: United States, 2001-2006.
March 2011
Looker AC, Johnson CL, Lacher DA, Pfeiffer CM, Schleicher RL, Sempos CT. Vitamin D status: United States, 2001-2006. NCHS Data Brief. 2011 Mar;(59):1-8.
- Candidate reference measurement procedures for serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 and 25-hydroxyvitamin D2 by using isotope-dilution liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.
March 2011
Stepman HC, Vanderroost A, Van Uytfanghe K, Thienpont LM. Candidate reference measurement procedures for serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 and 25-hydroxyvitamin D2 in human serum using isotope-dilution liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Clin Chem. 2011 Mar;57(3):441-8. Epub 2011 Jan 19.
- Dietary supplement use in the United States, 2003-2006.
February 2011
Bailey RL, Gahche JJ, Lentino CV, Dwyer JT, Engel JS, Thomas PR, Betz JM, Sempos CT, Picciano MF. Dietary supplement use in the United States, 2003-2006. J Nutr. 2011 Feb;141(2):261-6. Epub 2010 Dec 22.
- Full-scan mass spectral evidence for 3-epi-25-hydroxyvitamin D3 in serum of infants and adults.
February 2011
Stepman HC, Vanderroost A, Stöckl D, Thienpont LM. Full-scan mass spectral evidence for 3-epi-25-hydroxyvitamin D3 in serum of infants and adults. Clin Chem Lab Med. 2011 Feb;49(2):253-6. Epub 2010 Dec 14.
- NHANES monitoring of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D: a roundtable summary.
November 2010
Yetley EA, Pfeiffer CM, Schleicher RL, Phinney KW, Lacher DA, Christakos S, Eckfeldt JH, Fleet JC, Howard G, Hoofnagle AN, Hui SL, Lensmeyer GL, Massaro J, Peacock M, Rosner B, Wiebe D, Bailey RL, Coates PM, Looker AC, Sempos C, Johnson CL, Picciano MF. Vitamin D Roundtable on the NHANES Monitoring of Serum 25(OH)D: Assay Challenges and Options for Resolving Them. J Nutr. 2010 Nov;140(11):2030S-45S. Epub 2010 Sep 29.
- Estimation of total usual calcium and vitamin D intakes in the United States.
April 2010
Bailey RL, Dodd KW, Goldman JA, Gahche JJ, Dwyer JT, Moshfegh AJ, Sempos CT, Picciano MF. Estimation of total usual calcium and vitamin D intakes in the United States. J Nutr. 2010 Apr;140(4):817-22. Epub 2010 Feb 24.
- Three-phase model harmonizes estimates of the maximal suppression of parathyroid hormone by 25-hydroxyvitamin D in persons 65 years of age and older.
March 2010
Durazo-Arvizu RA, Dawson-Hughes B, Sempos CT, Yetley EA, Looker AC, Cao G, Harris SS, Burt VL, Carriquiry AL, Picciano MF. Three-phase model harmonizes estimates of the maximal suppression of parathyroid hormone by 25-hydroxyvitamin D in persons 65 years of age and older. J Nutr. 2010 Mar;140(3):595-9. Epub 2010 Jan 20.
- Development of a candidate reference measurement procedure for the determination of 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 and 25-hydroxyvitamin D2 in human serum using isotope-dilution liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.
March 2010
Tai SS, Bedner M, Phinney KW. Development of a candidate reference measurement procedure for the determination of 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 and 25-hydroxyvitamin D2 in human serum using isotope-dilution liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Anal Chem. 2010 Mar 1;82(5):1942-8.
- Data advisory with regard to NHANES serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D data.
September 2009
Looker AC, Lacher DA, Pfeiffer CM, Schleicher RL, Picciano MF, Yetley EA. Data advisory with regard to NHANES serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D data. Am J Clin Nutr. 2009 Sep;90(3):695. Epub 2009 Jul 1.
- Vitamin D and health in the 21st century: federal initiatives to advance research.
July 2009
Costello RB. Vitamin D and health in the 21st century: federal initiatives to advance research. Am J Med Sci. 2009 Jul;338(1):34-9. 2009 Sep;90(3):695. Epub 2009 Jul.
- Dietary reference intakes for vitamin D: justification for a review of the 1997 values.
March 2009
Yetley EA, Brulé D, Cheney MC, Davis CD, Esslinger KA, Fischer PW, Friedl KE, Greene-Finestone LS, Guenther PM, Klurfeld DM, L'Abbe MR, McMurry KY, Starke-Reed PE, Trumbo PR. Dietary reference intakes for vitamin D: justification for a review of the 1997 values. Am J Clin Nutr. 2009 Mar;89(3):719-27. Epub 2009 Jan 28.
- Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D status of the US population: 1988-1994 compared with 2000-2004.
December 2008
Looker AC, Pfeiffer CM, Lacher DA, Schleicher RL, Picciano MF, Yetley EA. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D status of the US population: 1988-1994 compared with 2000-2004. Am J Clin Nutr. 2008 Dec;88(6):1519-27.
- Overview of the conference "Vitamin D and Health in the 21st Century: an Update."
August 2008
Brannon PM, Yetley EA, Bailey RL, Picciano MF. Overview of the conference "Vitamin D and Health in the 21st Century: an Update." Am J Clin Nutr. 2008 Aug;88(2):483S-490S.
- Summary of roundtable discussion on vitamin D research needs.
August 2008
Brannon PM, Yetley EA, Bailey RL, Picciano MF. Summary of roundtable discussion on vitamin D research needs. Am J Clin Nutr. 2008 Aug;88(2):587S-592S.
- Development of a standard reference material for vitamin D in serum.
August 2008
Phinney KW. Development of a standard reference material for vitamin D in serum.
Am J Clin Nutr. 2008 Aug;88(2):511S-512S.
- Assessing the vitamin D status of the US population.
August 2008
Yetley EA. Assessing the vitamin D status of the US population. Am J Clin Nutr. 2008 Aug;88(2):558S-564S.
- Measurement of 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 (25OHD3) and 25-hydroxyvitamin D2 (25OHD2) in human serum using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry and its comparison to a radioimmunoassay method.
May 2008
Chen H, McCoy LF, Schleicher RL, Pfeiffer CM. Measurement of 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 (25OHD3) and 25-hydroxyvitamin D2 (25OHD2) in human serum using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry and its comparison to a radioimmunoassay method. Clin Chim Acta. 2008 May;391(1-2):6-12. Epub 2008 Jan 24.
- Dietary supplement use among infants, children, and adolescents in the United States, 1999-2002.
October 2007
Picciano MF, Dwyer JT, Radimer KL, Wilson DH, Fisher KD, Thomas PR, Yetley EA, Moshfegh AJ, Levy PS, Nielsen SJ, Marriott BM. Dietary supplement use among infants, children, and adolescents in the United States, 1999-2002. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2007 Oct;161(10):978-85.
- Vitamin D and cancer: current dilemmas and future needs.
August 2007
Davis CD, Hartmuller V, Freedman DM, Hartge P, Picciano MF, Swanson CA, Milner JA. Vitamin D and cancer: current dilemmas and future needs. Nutr Rev. 2007 Aug;65(8 Pt 2):S71-4.
Other Federal Government Resources on Vitamin D