Objective: To evaluate the nutritional status of vitamin D in urban populations of healthy elderly people living at home, in different regions of Argentina. Design: Cross-sectional study. Subjects: In total, 386 ambulatory subjects over 65 y of age from seven cities (between latitude 261S and 551S) were asked to participate between the end of winter and the beginning of spring. Of these, 369 accepted, 30 were excluded because of medical history or abnormal biochemical determinations. Finally, 339 subjects (226 women and 113 men) (X7s.d.) (71.37 5.2 y) were included. Results: Serum 25OHD levels were lowest in the South (latitude range: 411S-551S): 14.275.6 ng/ml (Po0.0001vs North and Mid regions); highest in the North (261S-271S): 20.777.4 ng/ml (Po0.03 vs Mid, Po0.0001vs South); and intermediate in the Mid region (331S-341S) 17.978.2 ng/ml. Serum mid-molecule PTH (mmPTH) and 25OHD were inversely related: (r ¼ À0.24, Po0.001). A cutoff level of 25OHD at which serum mmPTH levels began to increase was established at 27 ng/ml. A high prevalence (87-52%) of subjects with 25OHD levels in the deficiency-insufficiency range (25OHD levels o20 ng/ml) was detected. Conclusion: This study shows that vitamin D deficiency/insufficiency in the elderly is a worldwide problem. Correction of this deficit would have a positive impact on bone health of elderly people. Sponsorship: Asociació n Argentina de Osteología y Metabolismo Mineral (AAOMM).

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Supplementing diets with the GOS/FOS(®) mixture increased bone mineralization, density and structure due to an increase in Ca, P and Mg absorptions. Thus, this prebiotic mixture may help to improve bone development in a period of high calcium requirements.

BT diet rich in saturated fatty acids had decreased digestibility and adversely affected energy and bone metabolisms, in growing healthy male rats. There were no changes in zoometric and bone parameters among rats fed high vegetable oil diets.