BMJ Study Reveals: Calcium & Vitamin D Supplements Fail to Protect Bones
Millions of older adults who consume calcium and vitamin D supplements in an attempt to safeguard their bones might be wasting their resources, as per a comprehensive new review that has been making waves this week. The pivotal study, published in The BMJ, discovered that these popular supplements provide negligible to zero clinically significant protection against fractures or falls in the majority of older individuals.
Researchers from Canada scrutinized the outcomes of 69 randomized controlled trials that included an astounding 153,902 adults. They compared the effects of calcium supplements, vitamin D supplements, or a combination of both against a placebo or no treatment. The conclusion was clear-cut: none of the three strategies significantly diminished the risk of fractures or falls.
The lead researcher, Olivier Massé, PharmD, MSc, from the Sacred Heart Hospital of Montreal, declared: “These findings do not endorse routine supplementation with calcium, vitamin D or combined supplementation for the prevention of fractures or falls.”
With nearly one in three adults aged 65 and older falling each year, the prevention of fractures is a crucial global health concern. Despite the growing evidence against supplementation, the prescriptions for vitamin D and calcium have seen an upward trend in recent years, with numerous clinicians and health guidelines continuing to advocate them.
The researchers propose that efforts should be redirected towards interventions that have demonstrated benefits, such as balance and resistance exercise programs designed according to individual risk. Experts caution that the findings may not be applicable to individuals diagnosed with osteoporosis or confirmed vitamin D deficiency, where supplementation might still be necessary.