An HRC-funded study led by Professor Ian Reid from The University of Auckland's Bone Research Group suggests that the widespread use of vitamin D supplements to prevent osteoporosis in healthy adults is unneccessary.
The results of the study, which comprised of a systematic review and meta-analysis of 23 studies assessing the effects of Vitamin D on bone mineral density in healthy adults, were published online today in The Lancet.
The study found that taking vitamin D supplements did not improve bone mineral density at the hip, spine, forearm, or in the body as a whole.
“Most healthy adults do not need vitamin D supplements,” says Professor Reid.
“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 health care.”
Professor Reid says the 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,” says Professor Reid in The Lancet article.
Listen to Professor Reid talking about the study on Radio New Zealand's Checkpoint programme.