| Objectives
Certain groups among the European populations are at high
risk of vitamin D deficiency either because of sequestration
from sunlight as a matter of social or religious habit, or
their age, or because of special physiological circumstances,
which create an extra demand for effective absorption of calcium.
It is on the quantification of the deficiencies in three such
groups and the feasibility of their repair by food fortification
that the proposal focuses.
Three objectives are as follows:
- To determine
the effects of dietary intervention with vitamin D on the
pattern of calcium metabolism with particular reference
to skeletal changes in: Adolescent girls, Elderly individuals,
Muslim families;
- To determine,
in a longitudinal study in 5 countries of Europe, seasonal
variation in vitamin D insufficiencies and to relate them
to measured solar exposure and dietary vitamin intakes both
from natural and from fortified foods.
- To develop
specially prepared bread fortified with vitamin D.
To fulfil the objectives five work packages will be needed
entitled:
- Adolescent Girls - Impact of vitamin D on bone accretion.
- Elderly - Determination of lowest beneficial dose.
- Muslim Families – Vitamin D, bone accretion and
lack of sun exposure.
- Five Countries – Contribution of diet and sun exposure
for vitamin D status
across Europe.
- Fortification of Bread – Bioavailability of vitamin
D from a non-fatty food.
The Co-ordinator will appoint a Project Management Team of
all the Work Package Leaders that will act to drive the project,
and to ensure that the deliverables are made available and
milestones achieved at the time stated. |
