In the July 12, 2010, issue of the Archives, Grey and Bolland1 incorrectly state that vitamin D does not reduce fracture risk, citing a single flawed meta-analysis2 in support and ignoring several others that reached the opposite conclusion (eg, Bischoff-Ferrari et al3- 4). They dismiss as special pleading the fact that “advocates of vitamin D supplementation” point to inadequate vitamin D doses as an explanation for null effects. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D) is defined by the Institute of Medicine as the indicator of vitamin D functional status. Trials that do not change serum 25 (OH)D level appreciably (or which are not shown to do so) do not and cannot test the hypothesis that vitamin D lowers disease risk. Most meta-analysts, seemingly unaware of the relevant biology, ignore this key point. Nor, in meta-analyses, is it appropriate to lump together studies using calcitriol or its analogs with studies using native cholecalciferol. Intracellular calcitriol concentrations needed for autocrine activity cannot be achieved by oral or intravenous calcitriol administration.
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Country-Specific Mortality and Growth Failure in Infancy and Yound Children and Association With Material Stature
Use interactive graphics and maps to view and sort country-specific infant and early dhildhood mortality and growth failure data and their association with maternal
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