• Profile
Close

Vitamin D supplements do not boost bone health: The Lancet

IANS Oct 06, 2018

Intake of Vitamin D supplements does not prevent fractures or falls, or improve bone mineral density in adults, especially in women, claimed a new Lancet study.




Vitamin D supplements have long been recommended for older people to treat or prevent osteoporosis -- a bone loss condition -- with some early evidence suggesting benefits for bone health. However, the study, published in The Lancet Diabetes and Endocrinology journal, found no clinically meaningful effect of vitamin D supplementation on total fracture, hip fracture, or falls. 

There was reliable evidence that vitamin D does not reduce total fractures, hip fractures, or falls by 15 per cent -- a clinically meaningful threshold. Even when lower thresholds were assessed, there was still reliable evidence that vitamin D does not reduce falls by 7.5 per cent and total fractures by 5 per cent.

The differences in the effects of higher versus lower doses of vitamin D. "Our analysis finds that vitamin D does not prevent fractures, falls or improve bone mineral density, whether at high or low dose. Clinical guidelines should be changed to reflect these findings," said lead author Mark J. Bolland from the University of Auckland in New Zealand. 

"On the strength of existing evidence, we believe there is little justification for more trials of vitamin D supplements looking at musculoskeletal outcomes," Bolland added. In the study, the team pooled data from 81 randomised controlled trials. Most included women aged over the age of 65 (77 per cent of trials) who lived in the community and who received daily doses of more than 800 IU per day (68 per cent of trials).

Only Doctors with an M3 India account can read this article. Sign up for free or login with your existing account.
4 reasons why Doctors love M3 India
  • Exclusive Write-ups & Webinars by KOLs

  • Nonloggedininfinity icon
    Daily Quiz by specialty
  • Nonloggedinlock icon
    Paid Market Research Surveys
  • Case discussions, News & Journals' summaries
Sign-up / Log In
x
M3 app logo
Choose easy access to M3 India from your mobile!


M3 instruc arrow
Add M3 India to your Home screen
Tap  Chrome menu  and select "Add to Home screen" to pin the M3 India App to your Home screen
Okay