Vitamin D supplement consumption is required to achieve a minimal target 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentration of [greater than or equal to] 75 nmol/L in older people

Population level data on how older individuals living at high latitudes achieve optimal vitamin D status are not fully explored. Our objective was to examine the intake of vitamin D among healthy older individuals with 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] concentrations [greater than or equal to] 75 nmol/L and to describe current sources of dietary vitamin D. We conducted a population-based, cross-sectional study of 404 healthy men and women aged 69 to 83 y randomly selected from the NuAge longitudinal study in Quebec, Canada. Dietary intakes were assessed by 6 24-h recalls. We examined the contribution of foods and vitamin/ mineral supplements to vitamin D intake. Serum 25(OH)D was assessed by RIA. We assessed smoking status, season of 25(OH)D measurement, physical activity, and anthropometric and sociodemographic variables. Vitamin D status was distributed as follows: 7% (75 nmol/L had mean intakes of 14.1 [micro]g/d from food and supplements. Supplement use is an important contributor to achieve a minimal target of 25(OH)D concentration [greate than or equal to] 75 nmol/L. doi: 10.3945/jn.109.115626.