A new study shows that vitamin D3 Supplementation (2000 IU/day) did not reduce total, non-vertebral, or hip fractures, nor was any effect observed on major osteoporotic fractures, wrist fractures, or pelvic fractures.
Vitamin D supplements are widely prescribed and used to benefit bone health. However, definitive data on whether these supplements actually reduce bone fractures in the general population have been inconsistent.
To improve scientific understanding of this topic, a team of scientists from Brigham and Women’s Hospital conducted an adjunctive study to the Vitamin D and Omega-3 Trial (VITAL), a clinical trial of more than 25,000 adults. , which was also led by Brigham investigators. , A total of 1,991 incident fractures were confirmed in 1,551 participants with a mean follow-up of 5.3 years.
“Overall, the results of this large clinical trial do not support the use of vitamin D supplements to reduce fractures in generally healthy American men and women.” , Merrill LeBoff, MD
According to the findings, supplemental vitamin D3 (2000 IU/day) did not reduce total, non-vertebral, or hip fractures compared to placebo. Additionally, supplemental vitamin D had no effect.3 On major osteoporotic fractures, wrist fractures or pelvic fractures. In the analysis, the effects were not modified by baseline age, sex, race, body mass index, baseline vitamin D blood level, and individual use of supplemental calcium and/or vitamin D.
“Overall, the results of this large clinical trial do not support the use of vitamin D supplements to reduce fractures in generally healthy American men and women,” said lead author Meryl LeBoff, MD, in the Endocrine Division. said the head of the calcium and bone section. in Brigham.
“These findings do not apply to adults with vitamin D deficiency or low bone mass or osteoporosis. Most participants in the trial were not deficient and may have already reached vitamin D levels necessary for bone health. Our ongoing studies are focusing on whether genetic variation in free levels of vitamin D or in vitamin D absorption, metabolism, or receptor function would provide information on individuals who benefit from supplemental vitamin D on musculoskeletal health. can be.
“Although VITAL was originally designed to look at cardiovascular and cancer outcomes, it is a wonderful example of how it has shed light on health outcomes far beyond its original goals,” says Joan Manson, MD, co-author and head of the division said. Preventive Medicine at Brigham.
Reference: Merrill S. LeBoff, MD, Sharon H. Chow, MD, Kristin A. Ratliff, BA, Nancy R. Cook, SD, “Supplemental Vitamin D and Incident Fractures in Midlife and Older Adults” by Bharti Khurana, MD, Eunjung Kim, MS, Peggy M. Cawthon, PhD, MPH, Douglas C. Bauer, MD, Dennis Black, PhD, J. Chris Gallagher, MD, I-Min Lee, MB, BS, Sc.D., Julie E. Buring, Sc.D., and JoAnn E. Manson, MD, Dr.PH, 28 July 2022, New England Journal of Medicine,
DOI: 10.1056/NEJMOA2202106
Grant: NIH/National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases
