Dose-dependent Effects of Vitamin D on Bone Health

We propose to conduct a randomized double blind trial of three doses of vitamin D, 400, 4000, and 10,000 International Units (IU) per day, to assess the effect on bone density and architecture as assessed by high resolution peripheral quantitative tomography (HR-pQCT) measurements at the radius and distal tibia, and standard Dual X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Other measures of bone and calcium metabolism will be assessed. The trial will last as long as three years. Approximately 300 healthy men and women, aged 50-70 years of age, will be recruited, and randomly assigned to one of the three doses of vitamin D. Other outcome variables assessed include quality of life, depression, muscle strength and balance.