Effect of vitamin D supplementation on musculoskeletal health: Study

According to a study published in the journal The Lancet Diabetes and Endocrinology, Vitamin D supplementation does not reduce falls or fracture risk and also does not improve bone mineral density.

As people age, bone mineral density (BMD) tends to decrease, leading to a higher risk of fractures. This decline in BMD is primarily due to changes in bone remodeling, where the balance between bone resorption (breakdown) and bone formation shifts, resulting in a net loss of bone mass.

This weakened bone structure makes adults more susceptible to fractures, particularly in weight-bearing bones like the hips and spine, increasing the risk of osteoporosis and related complications.

Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin essential for health and plays a role in immune function and reducing inflammation. The primary sources of vitamin D are sunlight exposure, certain foods like fatty fish and fortified dairy products, and dietary supplements.

The study, carried out by researchers from the Universities of Auckland and Aberdeen, was a meta-analysis of 81 clinical trials, including over 53,000 patients, looking at the effects of vitamin D on fracture rates, falls and bone mineral density. Most studies included women aged over 65 with serum vitamin D levels of less than 50nmol/L and taking vitamin D doses of more than 800IU per day.

The analysis found that vitamin D supplementation did not reduce total fractures, hip fractures or falls by 15% – a clinically meaningful threshold. When the researchers reduced the thresholds, they found that vitamin D still did not reduce falls by 7.5% or total fractures by 5%. They also found that bone mineral density did not increase by a clinically significant level in those taking vitamin D.

‘In summary, vitamin D supplementation did not have meaningful effects on fracture, falls, or bone mineral density, and future trials are unlikely to alter these conclusions. Therefore, there is little justification for the use of vitamin D supplements to maintain or improve musculoskeletal health, and clinical guidelines should reflect these findings,” said the authors.

Reference: Mark J Bolland, PhD, Andrew Grey, MD, Alison Avenell, MD; Effects of vitamin D supplementation on musculoskeletal health: a systematic review, meta-analysis, and trial sequential analysis; The Lancet Diabetes and Endocrinology; DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/S2213-8587(18)30265-1