Dietary Supplement Vitamin D pills without bone health benefits
How do vitamin D supplements affect the bones??
The intake of vitamin D supplements does not have a positive effect on the health of the bones. The largest review on this topic to date has concluded that taking vitamin D supplements over the winter months is not really necessary if those affected want to improve the health of their bones.
Researchers from the University of Auckland and Aberdeen University found in their recent joint study that supplementing with vitamin D does not improve bone health. The physicians published the results of their study in the English-language journal "The Lancet Diabetes and Endocrinology".
Dietary supplements with vitamin D do not seem to have a positive effect on the health of our bones. (Image: Unclesam / fotolia.com)What was the result of the current investigation?
The large meta-analysis, which was compiled from 81 separate studies, found that there is no evidence for the beneficial effects of taking vitamin D supplements on bone health, except for those at high risk for some rare diseases. It is often suggested that people should take a vitamin D supplement for bone health in the winter months, which does not seem to be necessary in the view of the authors. Over the last four years, more than 30 randomized controlled trials on vitamin D and bone health have been published that have nearly doubled the evidence base available, said study author Professor Mark Bolland of the University of Auckland. The current meta-analysis shows that vitamin D prevents neither fractures nor falls or improves bone mineral density, whether at high or low dose, adds the expert.
Further investigations pointless?
Further studies on the effects of vitamin D on bone health are superfluous, claim the physicians. Based on available evidence, the researchers believe that there is little justification for further studies of vitamin D supplements dealing with musculoskeletal outcomes.
Where do we normally get our vitamin D from??
Everybody needs vitamin D The question is, however, whether vitamin D should be taken on dietary supplements. Vitamin D is naturally produced by the body as a result of exposure to sunlight. It is also contained in a small number of foods, such as cod liver, giblets, egg yolk and oily fish including salmon and mackerel.
Vitamin D supplements help people with rare diseases
The evaluated studies were mostly performed on older people who may be at increased risk for osteoporosis. However, there is no evidence of adult benefit, except for people who are at increased risk for osteomalacia, a form of rickets in adults, the researchers report. The statements of the scientists do not apply to children or adolescents because of the lack of studies. The reason for carrying out the analysis of the various studies is that many patients and physicians have been convinced by previous research and (social) media that vitamin D is a panacea. However, this has not been confirmed in terms of bone health. (As)