Vitamin D is essential to prevent rickets or osteomalacia. All guidelines conclude that very poor vitamin D (defined as serum 25OHD below 12 ng/ml) should be avoided. There is however a lively debate on the role of vitamin D for skeletal and extra‐skeletal health of adults and elderly subjects with some calling it “futile” and other claiming that very high serum 25OHD such as found in African tribes are needed. Based on a careful evaluation of all existing data, we suggest that vitamin D is not a panacea for all possible diseases of mankind. Vitamin D is, however, important for bone health throughout life. We encourage vitamin D supplementation in moderate doses for all who need it, especially the very young, pregnant women, immigrants with dark skin living in moderate climates, and (frail) older persons. Some people take more vitamin D than needed but far too many are continue to live with an in adequate vitamin D and or calcium nutritional status.

Please cite this article as doi: 10.1002/jbm4.10232.