Vitamin D Supplements Provide Very Low Bone Benefits

Researchers conducted a recent study to find out whether vitamin D supplements have any effect on bone mineral density. It was found that the bone benefit by the supplement was very low.

The research was conducted by Ian R. Reid, MD, from the Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland along with his colleagues. They carried out a systematic review and meta-data study of the impact of vitamin D supplements on the bone mineral density of the consumer.

The researchers accumulated data from 4000 healthy grown-ups in 23 trials and analyzed that no increase was observed in the bone mineral density in the hip, forearm, spine or the entire body by vitamin D supplement intake.

"Most healthy adults do not need vitamin D supplements" Professor Reid said in a press release. "Our data suggest that the targeting of low-dose vitamin D supplements only to individuals who are likely to be deficient could free up substantial resources that could be better used elsewhere in healthcare."

The researchers advised healthy adults not to consume vitamin D supplements to avoid osteoporosis, a bone disease.

The researchers examined all the data from the 23 studies, in which the people consumed vitamin D for two years. They found a notable increase in bone density of 0.8 percent in the femoral neck. But such effects are not considered to be clinically significant as per the authors.

"This systematic review provides very little evidence of an overall benefit of vitamin D supplementation on bone density. Continuing widespread use of vitamin D for osteoporosis prevention in community-dwelling adults without specific risk factors for vitamin D deficiency seems inappropriate," Professor Reid stated in a Lancet article.

Professor Reid advises people not to consume too much of vitamin D supplements as very high levels of the vitamin in our body may impact our bones adversely and overdo its job of absorbing calcium from the diet. We should consume moderate level of the vitamin. He also gave an example of how New Zealanders live a healthy and active life and get their dose of vitamin D from the Sun instead of having supplements.