Researchers have focused primarily on prevention of diseases that result from short-term nutrient deficiencies by providing nutrient intake recommendations and national nutritional policies. However, research shows that calcium and vitamin D deficiencies contribute to several major long-term chronic diseases that affect the populations of industrialized nations.

Nutrient intakes required to prevent many of the long-term disease are often higher than those required to prevent their respective index diseases (such as rickets for vitamin D deficiency). Therefore, researchers say that nutrient recommendations that focus solely on preventing index diseases may not be effective.

American Journal of Clinical Nutrition November, 2003