Research

Micronutrients & recovery

Vitamin D supplementation alone does not significantly increase bone mineral density or reduce the risk of fractures or falls in older people.

If you are an older adult taking Vitamin D supplements hoping to prevent falls or broken bones, know that current evidence does not support this specific benefit when taken alone. You should not stop taking it if prescribed for other reasons, but do not rely on it as a fall-prevention strategy. Focus on balance training and strength exercises instead.

GoodRefutesHIGH confidence
In contrast to previous reports, evidence does not support the argument that vitamin D only supplementation increases bone mineral density or reduces the risk of fractures or falls in older people.
Evropi Τheodoratou et al. · BMJ · 2014

Why this rating

Based on an umbrella review of 87 meta-analyses of RCTs, providing high-level evidence synthesis.

Source

Vitamin D and multiple health outcomes: umbrella review of systematic reviews and meta-analyses of observational studies and randomised trials

Evropi Τheodoratou et al. · BMJ · 2014

Meta-analysis · 268 studiesCited 974×
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