A comprehensive review has concluded that calcium and vitamin D supplements are ineffective at preventing falls and fractures in older people. Despite being commonly prescribed on the NHS for those at risk of osteoporosis or fracture, and widely used by the public for bone health, the study found no evidence to support their regular intake for this preventative measure.
Study Details
Published in the British Medical Journal (BMJ), the research was led by academics in Quebec, Canada. The team meticulously analysed 69 clinical trials encompassing 153,902 individuals. Their investigation delved into the risk of any fracture, hip fractures, bone breaks occurring outside the spine, spinal fractures, and the overall frequency of falls.
Key Findings
The results showed that there was “little to no effect” on the risk of any fracture from taking calcium supplements, vitamin D supplements, or both combined. The vitamin tablets also had no to little effect on specific fractures and the risk of falls.
The team noted that almost a third of people aged 65 and over experience at least one fall every year. “As much as 85% of older adults have a fear of falling because of a fall, contributing to reduced daily functioning and increased risk of subsequent falls,” they added. “Furthermore, half of women and one fifth of men will sustain a low trauma fracture during their lifetime, often due to a fall.”
However, the team said there was no evidence that taking vitamin tablets helped reduce these risks. They acknowledged some trials were small and had few participants, and the results may not apply to people with specific bone disorders or those receiving drug treatment for osteoporosis.
Recommendations
The researchers concluded that their findings “do not support routine supplementation with calcium or vitamin D, or combined supplementation to prevent fractures and falls” and suggested that doctors, guideline panels, and regulatory agencies “should re-evaluate their general recommendations for calcium and vitamin D supplementation in light of current evidence.”
When it comes to what people can do to prevent falls and fractures, the team pointed to weight-bearing exercise plus tailored advice on preventing falls for each individual person.
Background on Vitamin D and Calcium
Vitamin D helps regulate the amount of calcium and phosphate in the body, which keep bones, teeth, and muscles healthy. A lack of vitamin D can lead to bone deformities such as rickets in children, and bone pain caused by osteomalacia in adults. The current government and NHS advice is for people to take a daily vitamin D supplement during autumn and winter due to lack of sunlight in Britain. From late March or early April to the end of September, the NHS says most people should make all the vitamin D they need from sunlight. For calcium, adults aged 19 to 64 and over need 700mg per day, which the NHS recommends getting from diet.
