Background. Adequate intake of vitamin D and its concentration in serum is important for the health of bones and calcium-phosphorus metabolism and for the optimal functioning of many organs and tissues. Most epidemiological studies have shown that vitamin D deficiency is widespread among the population in Russian Federation.Material and methods. We reviewed relevant literature on the epidemiology of insufficiency and deficiency, skeletal and extraskeletal effects of vitamin D and summarized recommendations for the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of vitamin D deficiency in the general population, which were subsequently discussed and amended in conjunction with leading endocrinologists of the Russian Federation who are experts in this subject.Results. The optimal concentration of 25(OH)D in the serum as the best indicator of vitamin D body stores is recognized as 30—100 ng/ml (75—250 nmol/l), insufficiency — from 20 to 30 ng/ml (50 to 75 nmol/l), deficiency — less than 20 ng/ml (less than 50 nmol/l). In prevention and treatment it is recommended to stick to the target serum levels of 25(OH)D in the range of 30—60 ng/ml (75—150 nmol/l). We’ve developed a general practice recommendations for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of vitamin D deficiency in adults, including pregnant and lactating women, persons over 50 years old and subjects suffering from various diseases affecting the metabolism of vitamin D.Conclusions. Increased sufficiency of vitamin D in the population should be included as one of the priorities of modern healthcare due to proven preventive health effects on the musculoskeletal system and the potential positive impact on many socially significant diseases. This publication is a detailed version of the Federal Guideline.

Due to continuous aging of population and increase in the number of elderly people, osteoporosis became socially significant disease leading to disability, increasing mortality and thereby putting an additional burden on the public healthcare system.Screening to identify groups with a high probability of fracture is recommended using the FRAX^®Tool for all postmenopausal women and men over 50 years old (А1). In the presense of major pathological fractures (hip, spine, multiple fractures) it is recommended to diagnose osteoporosis and prescribe treatment regardless of the results of spine and hip double X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) or FRAX^®(B2).It is recommended to evaluate C-terminal telopeptide when prescribing antiresorptive therapy and procollagen type 1 N-terminal propeptide (P1NP) when prescribing anabolic therapy to patients receiving osteoporosis treatment at baseline and 3 months after the start of therapy in order to assess the effectiveness of treatment early and adherence to the therapy (А2). It is recommended to diagnose osteoporosis and prescribe treatment to patients with high individual 10-year probability of major pathological fractures (FRAX^®) regardless of the results of spine and hip DXA (В3).It is recommended to diagnose osteoporosis and prescribe treatment with a decrease in BMD, measured by DXA, by 2.5 or more T-score standard deviations in femoral neck, and/or in total hip, and/or in lumbar vertebrae, in postmenopausal women and men over 50 years old (А2).It is recommended to prescribe bisphosphonates, denosumab or teriparatide to prevent pathological fractures and increase BMD in patients with postmenopausal osteoporosis, osteoporosis in men, glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis (А2). When the clinical effect of therapy in osteoporotic patients without pathological fractures is achieved (BMD T-score > -2.0 SD in femoral neck and absence of new fractures), it is recommended to interrupt bisphosphonates therapy for 1-2 years with subsequent follow-up (B2). In patients with vertebral fractures, hip fractures or multiple fractures, it is recommended to continue ceaseless long-term treatment of osteoporosis (В3).All drugs for the treatment of osteoporosis are recommended to be prescribed in combination with calcium and cholecalciferol (А2). In order to reduce the risk of recurrent fractures by prescribing osteoporosis therapy timely and maintaining long-term follow-up of patients over 50 years old with pathological fractures, it is recommended to create Fracture Liaison Services (В2).

Screening using the Fracture Risk Assessment Tool (FRAX) is recommended in all postmenopausal woman and mеn over 50 (A1) in order to identify individuals with high probability of fractures. It is recommended to diagnose osteoporosis and start treatment in patients with fragility fracture of large bones of the skeleton and/or high individual probability of major fragility fractures (FRAX) and/or detected decrease in bone mineral density (BMD) up to –2.5 T-score as assessed by DXA in the femoral neck and/or lumbar vertebrae (A1). Patients with back pain, lifetime height loss of 4 cm or height loss of 2 cm since a previous medical examination, those who receive glucocorticoids, patients with long lasting decompensated type 2 diabetes mellitus, or those receiving insulin therapy, as well as patients who were previously diagnosed with fragility fractures at the other sites are advised to underwent standard lateral X-ray imaging of the spine (Th4—L5) in order to verify the presence of compression vertebral fractures (B1). Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) is recommended for individuals whose 10-year probability of major osteoporotic fracture (FRAX) falls within the medium risk group (B1). It is recommended to include the trabecular bone score (TBS) the FRAX algorithm in order to improve the sensitivity of this method (B1). Laboratory testing is recommended for the differential diagnosis with other causes of increased skeletal fragility in all patients with newly diagnosed osteoporosis and when previously prescribed antiosteoporostic treatment was ineffective (B1). Bisphosphonates (BPs), antibodies to receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-beta ligand (RANKL) (denosumab), or parathyroid hormone analogue (teriparatide) are equally recommended to prevent fragility fractures and increase BMD in patients with osteoporosis (A1). Denosumab is also recommended to prevent BMD loss and fractures in females receiving aromatase inhibitors therapy for breast cancer and males with prostate cancer receiving hormone-deprivation therapy and having no bone metastases (A1). Since teriparatide has the anabolic effect, it is recommended as the first line treatment in patients with severe osteoporosis having history of vertebral fractures, in the individuals with very high risk of fragility fractures, or in the cases when antiresorptive treatment was ineffective (B1). All medications for treatment of osteoporosis are recommended in combination with calcium and vitamin D supplements (A1).