A Free Self-Study Continuing Education Program for Dietetics Professionals

Vitamin D & Chronic Disease Risk: Causes, Consequences, & Clinical Recommendations with Dr. Michael F. Holick

Approved for 1.0 CPE credit hour by the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR)

Release Date: August 12, 2009

Effective Through: August 12, 2012

Suggested Learning Needs Codes: 2090, 3000, 4040 [These are suggested learning codes only. You may use any learning code that is applicable.]

Program Overview:

Most health professionals know vitamin D for its critical role in preventing rickets in children and osteomalacia in adults by increasing the efficiency of dietary calcium absorption. However, recent research has identified important relationships between vitamin D and other chronic diseases.

In this program, noted vitamin D expert Dr. Michael F. Holick explains the biology of vitamin D from the perspective of human evolution and why an endemic lack of vitamin D may be the mechanism by which diseases such as some types of cancer, type 1 diabetes and multiple sclerosis correlate with latitude. He also reviews risk factors for vitamin D insufficiency, as well as the appropriate biochemical marker for vitamin D status. The toxicology of vitamin D, evidence for the safety of physiologically meaningful doses and clinical recommendations will also be discussed.

Learning Objectives:

After completing this self-study learning module, health professionals will be able to:

• Identify risk factors for 25-hydroxyvitamin D deficiency.
• Describe the association between low 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels and chronic disease risk.
• Describe the appropriate biochemical marker for nutritional vitamin D sufficiency, the circulating
  level that should be attained and current clinical recommendations.

Instructions:

Registered dietitians and dietetic technicians, registered: Simply follow the instructions below to earn 1.0 CPE credit hour following your successful completion of the CPE Quiz.

Step 1. Read the program objectives for this CPE program as listed above.

Step 2. View the Vitamin D & Chronic Disease Risk materials, including the podcast presentation and accompanying handouts (presentation key points and slides). You can view or download the handouts as a PDF through the links below. (To save, right-click on the link and choose "save target as.")

• Podcast Presentation (flash video)
• Presentation Key Points (PDF)
• Slide Handout (PDF)

Step 3. Complete the CPE Quiz to ensure you have met the program objectives. When you are finished, check your answers against the CPE Quiz Key.

Step 4. Follow this link to provide an on-line evaluation of this CPE Module.

Step 5. After completing the quiz, download the Certificate of Completion (PDF)and put it in your files to verify completion of the CPE program and to receive one CPE credit hour. (Note: To save the CPE Certificate to your computer, right-click on the link above and choose "save target as..." To Print the Certificate, right-click on the link and choose "print target.")

Step 6. For more information, view the bibliography, Q&A, and Dr. Holick's website www.VitaminDHealth.org.

Speaker Biography:

Michael F. Holick, MD, PhD

Dr. Michael F. Holick is Professor of Medicine, Physiology and Biophysics, Director of the General Clinical Research Center and Director of the Bone Health Care Clinic and the Heliotherapy Therapy, Light and Skin Research Center at Boston University Medical Center. Dr. Holick has made numerous contributions to the field of the biochemistry, physiology, metabolism and photobiology of vitamin D for human nutrition. He determined the mechanism for how vitamin D is synthesized in the skin and demonstrated the effects of aging, obesity, latitude, seasonal change, sunscreen use, skin pigmentation and clothing on this vital process.

* This program is based on a webinar presented by Dr. Holick in December 2008.