Experts in a recent scientific review revealed that vitamin D supplements do not show a clear benefit in preventing falls or fractures in the elderly, despite their common use to promote bone health.
The UK's National Health Service (NHS) recommends taking vitamin D during the autumn and winter months, as the body is unable to produce sufficient amounts of it through exposure to sunlight during this period, which may affect bone health.
However, a scientific review of 69 clinical trials involving 153,902 participants concluded that vitamin D or calcium supplements have "little or no effect" in reducing the risk of fractures or falls. The researchers concluded that these findings do not support the routine use of these supplements for fracture prevention.
The study indicates that these results come at a time when there is increasing debate about how well the body benefits from vitamins when taken as supplements, compared to obtaining them from food, in addition to the variation in dosages between excess and deficiency among users.
According to researchers, approximately 30% of people aged 65 and over, and more than half of those living in care homes, experience at least one fall per year, with 5% of these resulting in fractures. Hospitalization for fractures often leads to a decline in health and mobility, which previously led to the belief that supplements could offer a simple and low-cost solution.
Vitamin D is an important element in regulating calcium and phosphate within the body, which are essential for the health of bones, teeth, and muscles. Its deficiency leads to health problems such as rickets in children and osteomalacia in adults.
The results indicate that taking vitamin D or calcium, alone or together, makes little difference in reducing hip fractures or falls in general. They also suggest that these findings may not apply to individuals with osteoporosis or certain bone disorders.
On the other hand, experts emphasize that fall prevention does not depend on supplements alone, but also includes exercising, especially resistance training, in addition to improving safety factors inside homes.
Researcher Olivier Massé from the CIUSSS du Nord-de-l'Île-de-Montréal center in Canada said the results clearly indicate that vitamin D or calcium do not prevent fractures or falls, calling for efforts to be directed towards scientifically proven medical interventions rather than relying on supplements.
Researchers also warn that users of these supplements often have a generally healthy lifestyle, which may explain the positive results observed in some previous studies, in what is known as "selection bias".
Vitamin D can be obtained from food sources such as fatty fish (salmon, sardines, trout, herring, and mackerel), red meat, egg yolks, and fortified foods.
As for calcium, health authorities recommend obtaining it from a balanced diet based on dairy products, leafy green vegetables, and fortified foods, as adults need about 700 mg daily.
If supplements are needed, doctors usually prescribe tablets containing calcium and vitamin D to support bone healthand prevent osteoporosis.
