From Routine Supplementation to Targeted Repletion: Vitamin D Deficiency in UVB-Constrained, Pollution-Exposed, and Ageing Populations-Musculoskeletal and Extra-Skeletal Perspectives
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Vitamin D deficiency remains common in UVB-constrained, pollution-exposed, sedentary, and ageing populations, yet recent guidelines discourage routine screening and empiric high-dose supplementation in generally healthy adults. This review clarifies the clinical distinction between untargeted population supplementation and monitored repletion of documented deficiency in high-risk individuals. Methods: We conducted a focused narrative review of PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library. The focused evidence search supporting the narrative synthesis was completed in June 2026. References published subsequently were included during manuscript preparation only when relevant for contextual purposes and were not incorporated retrospectively into the evidence-selection process underlying the review's clinical conclusions. Evidence was interpreted according to baseline and achieved 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D], dosing schedule, route, body composition, endpoint, and population risk. No formal risk-of-bias assessment, certainty grading, or systematic meta-analytic synthesis was performed. Key Findings: The strongest rationale for vitamin D repletion remains musculoskeletal, particularly for osteomalacia, muscle function, osteoporosis care, and fracture-related vulnerability in deficient or high-risk patients. Management should separate generally healthy adults from patients with an indication for testing or treatment. Historical and…
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