Calcium and vitamin D supplementation in the management of osteoporosis. What is the advisable dose of vitamin D?

The pathophysiological foundations justifying calcium and vitamin D supplements in osteoporosis are supported by extensive scientific evidence that has been obtained through several randomized clinical trials and subsequent meta-analyzes that have shown a statistically significant and clinically relevant reduction in the risk of osteoporotic fractures. This evidence has led to its recommendation by several scientific societies interested in the management of osteoporosis. In order to optimize the efficacy and the benefit/risk balance of these, calcium and vitamin D should be administered together with the drugs that are prescribed for the treatment of osteoporosis, since calcium and vitamin D have been used in all these reference studies, both in the arm that receives the drug and also in the placebo arm. The most commonly used calcium salt is carbonate and the metabolite of vitamin D, cholecalciferol or vitamin D-3. There is no consensus or conclusive scientific evidence on the dose to be used in vitamin D deficiency associated with osteoporosis. However, the trend has always been to increase these amounts, from the 400 IU recommended 30 years ago to the 2,000 IU daily today. We will review in this article which recommendations are made by means of the clinical guidelines, as they collect the available scientific evidence.