Consensus Statement on Vitamin D Status Assessment and Supplementation: Whys, Whens, and Hows.

The 6th International Conference, "Controversies in Vitamin D," was convened to discuss controversial topics, such as vitamin D metabolism, assessment, actions, and supplementation. Novel insights into vitamin D mechanisms of action suggest links with conditions that do not depend only on reduced solar exposure or diet intake and that can be detected with distinctive noncanonical vitamin D metabolites. Optimal 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) levels remain debated. Varying recommendations from different societies arise from evaluating different clinical or public health approaches. The lack of assay standardization also poses challenges in interpreting data from available studies, hindering rational data pooling and meta-analyses. Beyond the well-known skeletal features, interest in vitamin D's extraskeletal effects has led to clinical trials on cancer, cardiovascular risk, respiratory effects, autoimmune diseases, diabetes, and mortality. The initial negative results are likely due to enrollment of vitamin D-replete individuals. Subsequent post hoc analyses have suggested, nevertheless, potential benefits in reducing cancer incidence, autoimmune diseases, cardiovascular events, and diabetes. Oral administration of vitamin D is the preferred route. Parenteral administration is reserved for specific clinical situations. Cholecalciferol is favored due to safety and minimal monitoring requirements. Calcifediol may be used in certain conditions, while calcitriol should be limited to specific disorders in which the active metabolite is not readily produced in vivo. Further studies are needed to investigate vitamin D effects in relation to the different recommended 25(OH)D levels and the efficacy of the different supplementary formulations in achieving biochemical and clinical outcomes within the multifaced skeletal and extraskeletal potential effects of vitamin D.

Fracture risk assessment in an Italian group of transgender women after gender-confirming surgery.

INTRODUCTION: Bone health is a critical issue in transgender women (TW) health care. Conflicting results have been reported on bone status after gender-confirming surgery (GCS). No recent data in Italian TW are available. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The aim of this cross-sectional study was to evaluate fracture risk, lumbar spine BMD and 25OH vitamin D (25OHD) levels in a population of TW on estrogen replacement therapy (ERT) after GCS. We retrospectively analyzed a group of 57 TW, aged 45.3 ± 11.3 years, referred to our Gender Dysphoria Clinic, at least 2 years after GCS. Anthropometric parameters, patient compliance to ERT, biochemical and hormonal assessment, lumbar spine BMD and fracture risk were evaluated. RESULTS: Prevalence of low bone mass (Z-score ≤ -2) was 40% according to the natal gender. In this group, 17ß-estradiol levels were significantly lower (median 21 pg/ml [25th-75th percentile 10.6-48.5] vs 63 pg/ml [38.5-99.5]; p < 0.001) and a higher prevalence of low compliance to ERT was recorded (83% vs 29%; p < 0.0001) compared to those with higher bone mass. An intermediate-high fracture risk was found in 14% of the sample. A high percentage (93%) of hypovitaminosis D was present. CONCLUSIONS: TW on ERT have a high prevalence of low bone mass, significantly associated with low estradiol levels and low compliance to ERT. A high prevalence of hypovitaminosis D was highlighted. Considering that one out of seven TW showed an intermediate-high 10-year fracture risk, such risk assessment may be considered to prevent and manage osteoporosis in this clinical setting.