First once-a-day high dose vitamin D3 supplement to tackle hidden deficiency -- lucy mason

June 6, 2011 - PRLog -- Press Release: June 2011

FIRST ONCE-A-DAY HIGH DOSE VITAMIN D3 SUPPLEMENT TO TACKLE HIDDEN DEFICIENCY

THE UK’s first once-daily preparation has been launched combining the updated recommended daily dose of vitamin D3 with a low-dose calcium component.
Kalcipos-D aims to tackle the growing problem of vitamin D deficiency (1) (Hypovitaminosis D3) in older people. One tablet per day supplies the recommended 800 IU daily dose of vitamin D3 and 50 per cent of daily calcium requirements for people over 50. It costs £4.21 for 30 tablets and is available on prescription.
Low levels of vitamin D3 are widespread in the UK and often undetected but it is essential for the processing of calcium and bone health. Unlike other vitamins, it can be made in our bodies as a result of exposure to sunlight.
Insufficiency may lead to increased risk of fractures in the elderly, including those already vulnerable through osteoporosis.(2)
Kalcipos-D has been specially formulated to contain a low dose of calcium because high calcium content can increase the risk of gastrointestinal effects. (3) Extra calcium is also more readily obtained from dietary sources than vitamin D3.
Hypovitaminosis D3 was found in 87 per cent of people aged 45 in a UK cohort study. Calls have been made for routine screening. (4)
Post-menopausal women are also a very high risk group, particularly those with osteoporosis and a history of fracture. Vitamin D3 synthesis is also reduced in obese people, housebound patients and nursing home residents, and those with darker skin pigmentation – 82 per cent of UK Asian adults have insufficient vitamin D3.(5)
Vitamin D3 is vital to maintaining a healthy immune system. It is often called the ‘sunshine vitamin’ because it is made by the action of sunlight on the skin, which accounts for 90 per cent of the body’s supply.
In the summer, a fair-skinned person in the UK would need 20-30 minutes UVB exposure on their face and forearms at midday two or three times per week to gain an adequate supply. (6)
But a combination of the modern lifestyle, which involves a lack of exposure to sunlight, and also covering up in sunlight, is thought to be contributing to the increasing numbers of people with a deficiency.
It is a common problem among the elderly which is thought to be due to the capacity to generate vitamin D in response to sunlight falling with age, a low intake of vitamin D-rich foods, and the fact that many elderly people spend most of their time indoors.
The International Osteoporosis Foundation recommends that the average person aged over 60 needs at least 800 IU vitamin D3 per day to reduce fracture risk. Making up the requirement by diet alone is difficult, as the range of foods containing vitamin D is limited - equivalent to 6oz of oily fish or 32 egg yolks. (7)
About Kalcipos-D
• A Prescription Only Medicine (POM) in a chewable neutral-tasting daily tablet indicated for the prevention and treatment of calcium and vitamin D deficiency in elderly people.
• It contains the recommended daily dose of vitamin D3 and 50 per cent of the recommended daily dose of calcium for people aged over 50. High calcium content has been linked with a greater likelihood of GI adverse effects such as nausea, vomiting, bloating and constipation. Kalcipos-D is associated with a very low incidence of side-effects. (8)
• Kalcipos-D is licensed in the UK and Europe.
• The gelatine used is bovine, rather than porcine, origin so suitable for Jewish and Muslim patients.
• In 2010, the International Osteoporosis Foundation also recommended an average dose of 800-1000 IU/day for older adults. (9)
• A survey of 19,000 patients found that vitamin D3 supplementation at 700-800 IU/day reduced the risk of hip fracture by 26 per cent in people aged over 60. (10)
Symptoms of vitamin D3 deficiency can include:
• Bone pain, especially rib, hip, pelvis, thigh and foot (11)
• Diffuse muscular pain and muscle weakness, including in the limbs and back (12)
• Tingling
• Low bone density (13)
• Joint swelling
• High blood pressure, depression and chronic fatigue (14)
• Frequent infections (15)

References:
1. Hypponen E, Power C. Am J Clin Nutr 2007; 85:860-8
2. Gerdhem P et al. Osteoporosis Int 2005; 16 (11):1425-31
3. Prince RL et al. Arch Intern Med 2006; 166:869-75
4. Hypponen E, Power C. Am J Clin Nutr 2007; 85:860-8
5. Dawson-Hughes B. Am J Clin Nutr 2004;80:1763S-6S. Worstman J et al. Am J Clin Nutr 2000;72 (3):690-3
6. Holick MF. J Nutr 2005;135:2739S-48S
7. Dawson-Hughes B et al. Osteoporosis Int 2005;16(7):713-6
8. http://www.osteoporosisadvice.com/calcium-supplement.php April 12, 2011
9. Dawson-Hughes B et al.Osteoporos Int 2010; 21:1151-54
10. Bischoff-Ferrari HA et al. JAMA 2005;293:2257-64
11. Blaney GP et al. Ann NY Acad Sci 2009; 1173:384-90
12. Pearce SH,Cheetham TD.BMJ 2010;340:142-7
13. Pearce SH,Cheetham TD.BMJ 2010;340:142-7
14. Blaney GP et al. Ann NY Acad Sci 2009; 1173:384-90. Jorde R et al. J Neurol 2006; 253(4):464-70. Pilz S, Tomaschitz A. Expert Rev Cardiovasc Ther 2010;8(11):1599-608. Vitamin D Council. Available at http://www.vitamindcouncil.org/treatment.shtml.
15. Holick MF. Am J Clin Nutr 2004;80(suppl):1678-88S

Editor’s notes
• For more information, images or interviews please contact Lucy Mason at Mason Media on 0151 239 5050. Lucy@masonmedia.co.uk. Mobile: 07903 197402

About MEDA Pharmaceuticals Ltd
MEDA Pharmaceuticals Ltd is a leading international specialty pharma company. Meda’s products are sold in 120 countries worldwide and the company is represented by its own organizations in 50 countries. To find out more, visit www.meda.se

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