Vitamin D and Calcium Recommendations for Clinicians Need to Be Custom-Fit for Patients

Washington, D.C., April 17, 2018—In response to two new recommendations, “Vitamin D, Calcium, or Combined Supplementation for the Primary Prevention of Fractures in Community-Dwelling Adults” and “Interventions to Prevent Falls in Community-Dwelling Older Adults,” issued today by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), the Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN), the leading trade association for the dietary supplement and functional food industry, issued the following statement:

Statement by Andrea Wong, Ph.D., vice president, scientific & regulatory affairs, CRN: 
“CRN appreciates the Task Force’s upfront acknowledgment that clinical decisions are not one-size-fits-all, and therefore, clinicians should tailor preventive care to each individual’s needs. We also support the opinion of Dr. David Reuben, author of the accompanying editorial, that a comprehensive, patient-centered approach is what contributes the most to the prevention of certain detrimental health conditions, including assessing patients’ baseline nutrition status and their likelihood of compliance with the recommended intervention. We hope the Task Force will take these individualities into consideration when issuing future guidelines. 

CRN reminds consumers that no one is exempt from the need to obtain adequate amounts of vitamin D and calcium. Both nutrients are critical to overall health, especially bone health, and most people do not get enough of either, which is why the government has identified both vitamin D and calcium as nutrients of public health concern in the 2015 Dietary Guidelines. We also remind consumers to talk with their doctors or other healthcare practitioners about developing their own individualized plan that evaluates their vitamin D and calcium status for possible deficiency and considers the potential benefits of supplementation, especially those people at risk of osteoporosis or vitamin D deficiency.” 

Note to Editor: The Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN), founded in 1973, is a Washington, D.C.-based trade association representing 150+ dietary supplement and functional food manufacturers, ingredient suppliers, and companies providing services to those manufacturers and suppliers. In addition to complying with a host of federal and state regulations governing dietary supplements and food in the areas of manufacturing, marketing, quality control and safety, our manufacturer and supplier members also agree to adhere to additional voluntary guidelines as well as to CRN’s Code of Ethics. Visit www.crnusa.org. Follow us on Twitter @CRN_Supplements and LinkedIn.