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.
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.
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
DOI 10.1136/bmj.g2035
More from this paper
- There is no highly convincing evidence of a clear role of vitamin D for any health outcome, as observational associations often fail to replicate in randomised controlled trials.Strong
- Vitamin D supplementation is probably linked to a decrease in dental caries in children and a decrease in parathyroid hormone concentrations in patients with chronic kidney disease requiring dialysis.Good
Related findings · Micronutrients & recovery
- Trans fats (industrial trans-fatty acids) are unequivocally harmful and should be completely avoided as they raise LDL-C, TGs, and Apo B while lowering HDL-C.Strong
- For menopausal women with osteoporosis, first-line pharmacologic therapies include alendronate, risedronate, zoledronic acid, and denosumab for the prevention of hip, nonvertebral, and vertebral fractures.Strong
- Folic acid fortification of flour prevents neural tube birth defects, and mandatory fortification is more effective than voluntary supplementation alone.Strong
This is one finding among thousands. Every one is graded and traced to its source, so you can see what the evidence actually supports. Browse the research →