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Vitamin D supplements don't improve bone health, major study finds
Vitamin D supplements do not improve bone mineral density or prevent fractures or falls in adults, finds a large study that advises health professionals to stop recommending the supplements to most patients.
[...] "Our meta-analysis finds that vitamin D does not prevent fractures, falls or improve bone mineral density, whether at high or low dose," lead author Dr. Mark J. Bolland, associate professor at the University of Auckland in New Zealand, said in a statement. The findings add to previous research suggesting that vitamin D supplements do not prevent disease for the majority.
The research, published in the Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology [DOI: 10.1016/S2213-8587(18)30265-1] [DX], analyzed data from 81 randomized controlled trials -- involving more than 53,000 people -- that studied whether the over-the-counter supplement helped in fractures, falls and bone density. Most studies included women over the age of 65. The team concluded that vitamin D does not prevent fractures or falls, or have a meaningful effect on bone mineral density, concluding that there is little justification in taking them to "maintain or improve musculoskeletal health," adding that there is no need for more trials to explore this.
But the research also concludes the supplement is helpful in preventing rare conditions such as rickets and osteomalacia in high risk groups, which can occur after a prolonged lack of exposure to sunshine, resulting in deficiency.
See also: Vitamin D pills - what's the truth?
(Score: 2) by Immerman on Saturday October 06 2018, @02:06AM (2 children)
At least for some calcium-based stones.
After the third time I stopped taking them to see if the stones returned, I was convinced. Pissing fine sand isn't so bad, mostly just irritating. But let me tell you, as soon as that happens I start pounding vitamin D post haste. Passing a pea-sized goats-head thorn is not for the faint of heart.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday October 06 2018, @01:53PM (1 child)
And good for helping with depression, particularly for people who spend a lot of time indoors. And the big bonus: it makes non-dairy smoothies creamy. I throw a couple of tablets in the blender with a banna, frozen strawberries, blueberries, spinach, almond milk and some ice. Instant feel-better juice if your feeling at all run down. The D gives it a nice creamy texture.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday October 07 2018, @03:40AM
Doc Bruce Banna pelted by gamma rays turns into the hulk. The ever loving hulk.