Does Vitamin D Supplementation Improve Bone Density?

In an unselected older population, the answer appears to be “no.”

Perhaps surprisingly, evidence that vitamin D supplementation improves bone-mineral density (BMD) is limited. To address this gap, researchers conducted an ancillary study within the recently completed, randomized VITAL trial, in which 26,000 middle-aged and older community-dwelling adults received vitamin D₃ (2000 IU daily) or placebo (NEJM JW Gen Med Dec 15 2018 and N Engl J Med 2019; 380:33). In the ancillary study, 687 participants (about half women) underwent BMD testing at baseline and at 2 years; at baseline, about half the participants had osteopenia, and about 10% had osteoporosis.

At 2 years, changes in BMD were small, with no significant differences between the vitamin D and placebo groups in hip, spine, or whole-body BMD. Additio…

Reviewing Author

Allan S. Brett, MD

Disclosures

Nothing to disclose

Allan S. Brett, MD

Disclosures

Nothing to disclose

Does Vitamin D Supplementation Improve Bone Density?

Topics

Reviewing Author