Towards a strategy for optimal vitamin D fortification (OPTIFORD).

The research project "Towards a Strategy for Optimal Vitamin D Fortification (OPTIFORD)" has received financial support from the 5th framework programme of the EC. Vitamin D deficiency is a serious health problem among large population groups in Europe. Subjects segregated from sun exposure for social or religious reasons, or because of disability are at risk for vitamin D deficiency. Vitamin D is essential for proper bone mineralisation and vitamin D deficiency is recognised to be an important risk factor for hip fracture. Fortification and/or supplementation strategies could be effective and inexpensive ways of arresting preventable health consequences. However, fortification policies in Europe differ and this reflects the many unknowns in relation to the strategy of vitamin D fortification of food, particularly concerning the levels achieving optimal effects without toxicity. The overall objective of OPTIFORD is to investigate if fortification of food with vitamin D is a feasible strategy to remedy the insufficient vitamin D status of large population groups in Europe, and to determine at what level fortification should be pitched. An important outcome is to reinforce the scientific basis for recommendations on vitamin D as a nutrient.