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Call for evidence: SACN review of vitamin D

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Background

SACN last considered the evidence on vitamin D and health in its 2007 position statement Update on Vitamin D[1].  At that time, the Committee concluded there was insufficient evidence to amend existing advice on vitamin D requirements[2].  SACN has now agreed to review the data on vitamin D because further evidence has become available.

Terms of reference

  • To review the Dietary Reference Values for vitamin D intake and make recommendations.

This will require a risk assessment of the vitamin D status of the UK population and is expected to include consideration of: biochemical indicators of vitamin D status; the association between vitamin D status and various health outcomes; the risks of skin damage and other adverse effects associated with sunlight exposure; potential adverse effects of high vitamin D intakes; and the relative contributions of diet and cutaneous vitamin D synthesis to vitamin D status in the UK.

Full draft terms of reference may be downloaded via the link at the top of the page.

Evidence

A literature search of bibliographic databases will be conducted to identify new evidence on vitamin D.  The SACN review will be informed by the recently published report by the Institute of Medicine (IOM) in the USA: Dietary Reference Intakes for Calcium and Vitamin D[3].

New evidence (i.e., data not already identified in the IOM report) put forward by interested parties will be considered by the SACN Working Group on Vitamin D.  Only peer-reviewed original research that has been published in scientific or medical journals will be considered.  Published case-reports will also be considered.  Magazine articles, opinion pieces, website material, proceedings of meetings and abstracts will not be considered.

The National Diet and Nutrition Survey and the Health Survey for England will be used to assess the vitamin D status of the UK population.  However, since these surveys contain limited data on some subgroups of the population, the Committee is particularly interested in data on blood vitamin D status at different life stages and of certain subsets of the UK population, particularly minority ethnic groups.

The Committee is also interested in being informed of ongoing research due for completion in the next 1-2 years.

SACN’s approach to assessing the available evidence

Studies are graded according to a hierarchy of evidence based on study design: randomised controlled trials (RCTs) are ranked at the highest level, followed by prospective cohort studies, case-control studies, cross sectional studies and ecological studies, which are ranked at the lowest level.  SACN’s consideration of the evidence is generally restricted to RCTs and cohort studies; case-control studies, cross sectional studies and ecological studies are usually not considered.

To note: SACN’s remit is limited to scientific consideration of the evidence.  Since the Committee’s remit does not include risk management, it cannot consider practical implications and issues such as delivery of public health advice.

Closing date for submission of evidence

Any evidence for consideration by the SACN Working Group on Vitamin D should be emailed to sacn@dh.gsi.gov.uk by 30 April 2011.


[1] Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition. Update on Vitamin D. London: TSO, 2007.

[2] Department of Health. Dietary Reference Values for Food, Energy and Nutrients for the United Kingdom. Report on Health and Social Subjects, No. 41. London: HMSO, 1991.

[3] IOM (Institute of Medicine). Dietary Reference Intakes for Calcium and Vitamin D. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press, 2011.

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