The importance of supplementation with vitamin D and minerals for achieving maximum effects in the treatment of osteoporosis

Abstract

Introduction. Vitamin D is known to regulate calcium and phosphate metabolism. It plays an essential role in maintaining a healthy mineralized skeleton and it is also an immunomodulatory hormone. Experimental studies have shown that vitamin D has significant biologic activities on the innate and adaptive immune systems. Animal studies have demonstrated that administration of vitamin D or its metabolites leads to changes in the occurrence and progression of various immune-related diseases. This supports the clinical and epidemiological data that link vitamin D with the incidence and severity of many disorders, such as psoriasis, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, type 1 diabetes, and infectious diseases. In recent decades, interest in vitamin D has increased exponentially, particularly as a vitamin D deficit has been associated with multiple diseases, and globally, there appears to be a high vitamin D deficiency. Osteoporosis prevention. Recent literature states that for the prevention of hypovitaminosis D in children, a daily recommended dose of 400-800 international units (IU) from 0 months to 3 years is required. For ages up to 18, the dose increases to 1000 IU, and from 19 to 70+ the dose is up to 1500 IU. In treating hypovitaminosis D, higher doses than preventive doses are recommended. For ages 0 to 12 months, they vary from 1000 to 1500 IU, while after the age of 9, therapeutic doses increase to 4000 IU. Osteoporosis therapy. In osteoporosis therapy, two groups of drugs are most often used - antiresorptive and anabolic. Of the antiresorptive preparations, bisphosphonates are the most important - the gold standard in treating osteoporosis, the first drug of choice. Conclusion. Circulating vitamin D has an important physiological role. It is necessary to provide enough vitamin D daily to ensure stable concentrations in the circulation and ensure optimal benefits of vitamin D. Recommendations for vitamin D supplementation differ in terms of preventive versus therapeutic doses. If a person is diagnosed with osteoporosis, before the introduction of antiresorptive or anabolic therapy, it is necessary to determine the method of administration of the appropriate dose of vitamin D. In the treatment of osteoporosis bisphosphonates are the gold standard; in addition to vitamin D.