At-risk populations should be screened for vitamin D deficiency, according to a new clinical practice guideline from The Endocrine Society.

Vitamin D deficiency is common throughout the world and results in abnormalities of calcium, phosphorus and bone metabolism that can lead to muscle weakness, osteomalacia, osteopenia and osteoporosis, according to the authors. In children, vitamin D deficiency can result in skeletal deformities known as rickets.

“Vitamin D deficiency is very common in all age groups and it is important that physicians and healthcare providers have the best evidence-based recommendations for evaluating, treating and preventing vitamin D deficiency in patients at highest risk,” Michael F. Holick, MD, PhD, of the Boston University School of Medicine and chairman of the task force that authored the CPG, said in a news release.

“The Society’s new clinical practice guideline was developed by experts in the field who carefully reviewed the current literature and features the latest and most comprehensive recommendations available on the prevention and treatment of vitamin D deficiency.”

Recommendations from the CPG include screening for vitamin D deficiency in individuals at risk for deficiency; measurement of vitamin D level by a reliable assay as the initial diagnostic test in patients at risk for deficiency; and treatment with either vitamin D2 or vitamin D3 for deficient patients.

The CPG also features recommendations for dietary intake of vitamin D in patients at risk for vitamin D deficiency:

• Infants and children ages 0 to 1 require at least 400 IU a day (IU=25 ng) of vitamin D, and children 1 year and older require at least 600 IU a day to maximize bone health. To raise the blood level of vitamin D consistently above 30 ng/ml may require at least 1,000 IU a day.

• Adults ages 19 to 50 require at least 600 IU a day of vitamin D to maximize bone health and muscle function. At least 1,500 to 2,000 IU a day may be needed to maintain blood level of vitamin D above 30 ng/ml.

• Adults ages 50 to 70 and adults older than 70 years require at least 600 IU a day and 800 IU a day respectively of vitamin D. At least 1,500 to 2,000 IU a day may be needed to maintain blood level of vitamin D above 30 ng/ml.

• Pregnant and lactating women require at least 600 IU a day of vitamin D, and at least 1,500 IU a day may be needed to maintain blood level of vitamin D above 30 ng/ml.

“At the present time, there is not sufficient evidence to recommend screening individuals who are not at risk for deficiency or to prescribe vitamin D to attain the non-calcemic benefit for cardiovascular protection,” Holick said.

“Evaluation, Treatment, and Prevention of Vitamin D Deficiency: An Endocrine Society Clinical Practice Guideline” will be published in the July issue of the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, a publication of The Endocrine Society.