Cost-effectiveness of personalized supplementation with vitamin D-rich dairy products in the prevention of osteoporotic fractures

Summary: Titrated supplementations with vitamin D-fortified
yogurt, based on spontaneous calcium and vitamin D intakes,
can be cost-effective in postmenopausal women with or without
increased risk of osteoporotic fractures.
Introduction: The objective of this study is to assess the costeffectiveness
of the vitamin D-fortified yogurt given to women
with and without an increased risk of osteoporotic fracture.
Methods: Avalidated cost-effectiveness microsimulation Markov
model of osteoporosis management was used. Three personalized
supplementation scenarios to reflect the Ca/Vit D
needs taking into account the well-known variations in dietary
habits and a possible pharmacological supplementation in Ca/
Vit D, given above or in combination with anti-osteoporosis
medications: one yogurt per day, i.e., 400 mg of Ca+200 IU of
Vit D (scenario 1 U), two yogurts per day, i.e., 800 mg of Ca+
400 IU of Vit D (scenario 2 U), or three yogurts per day, i.e., 1,
200 mg of Ca+600 IU of Vit D (scenario 3 U).
Results: One yogurt is cost-effective in the general population
above the age of 70 years and in all age groups in women with
low bone mineral density (BMD) or prevalent vertebral fracture
(PVF). The daily intake of two yogurts is cost-effective
above 80 years in the general population and above 70 years in
the two groups of women at increased risk of fractures. However,
an intake of three yogurts per day is only cost-effective
above 80 years old in the general population, as well as in
women with low BMD or PVF.
Conclusions: Our study is the first economic analysis
supporting the cost-effectiveness of dairy products, fortified
with vitamin D, in the armamentarium against osteoporotic
fractures.