OPTIFORD - Research towards the prevention of Osteoporosis

'Every 30 seconds someone in the EU suffers a fracture as a result of osteoporis' is the title of a new brochure presenting the work of OPTIFORD - Optimal Strategy for Vitamin D Fortification.,

The research project involves five countries (Denmark, Finland, Ireland, Spain and Poland) under the Fifth Framework Programme, Quality of Life and Management of Living Resources, Key Action 1: Food, Nutrition and Health, Contract nr.QLK1-CT-2000-00623. , ,The main purpose of OPTIFORD is to determine whether fortification of food with vitamin D is a feasible strategy to improve the vitamin D status of the European population.
The OPTIFORD project will provide new knowledge, scientific information, data and methodologies to optimise fortification strategies by:
· Determining the lowest effective dose of vitamin D that beneficially affects calcium metabolism.
· Assessing the impact of increased vitamin D intake on bone mass in adolescent girls, elderly people and certain immigrant groups.
· Evaluating the relative impact of sun exposure and dietary intake on seasonal variation of vitamin D status across Europe.
· Developing a new low-fat food fortified with vitamin D.
· Establishing a European-wide recommended level of fortification with or supplement of vitamin D.
,For more information please visit our website:,http://www.optiford.org
To receive the brochure or any further information on OPTIFORD please contact:
Henning Klarlund,Research Liaison Officer, ,Department of Nutrition,Institute of Food Safety and Nutrition,Danish Veterinary and Food Administration, ,Mørkhøj Bygade 19,DK-2860 Søborg,Tel. [phone],Dir. [phone],Fax [phone],E-mail: [e-mail]

Countries

Denmark, Spain, Finland, Ireland, Portugal