Vitamin D is important for skeletal metabolism and calcium homeostasis, but conflicting evidence exists as to whether vitamin D supplementation has a protective effect on musculoskeletal outcomes. Do the results of a new meta-analysis bring clarity or increase confusion?
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Access Nature and 54 other Nature Portfolio journals
Get Nature+, our best-value online-access subscription
$29.99 / 30 days
cancel any time
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 12 print issues and online access
$209.00 per year
only $17.42 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
References
Bouillon, R. et al. Skeletal and extra-skeletal actions of vitamin D: current evidence and outstanding questions. Endocr. Rev. https://doi.org/10.1210/er.2018-00126 (2018).
Bolland, M. J., Grey, A. & Avenell, A. Effects of vitamin D supplementation on musculoskeletal health: a systematic review, meta-analyses, and trial-sequential analyses. Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol. 6, 847–858 (2018).
Avenell, A., Mak, J. C. S. & O’Connell, D. Vitamin D and vitamin D analogues for preventing fractures in post-menopausal women and older men. Cochrane Database Syst. Rev. 4, CD000227 (2014).
Reid, I. R., Bolland, M. J. & Grey, A. Effects of vitamin D supplements on bone mineral density: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Lancet 383, 146–155 (2014).
Zhao, J. G. et al. Association between calcium or vitamin D supplementation and fracture incidence in community-dwelling older adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis. JAMA 318, 2466–2482 (2017).
Holick, M. F. et al. Evaluation, treatment, and prevention of vitamin D deficiency: an Endocrine Society clinical practice guideline. J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab. 96, 1911–1930 (2011).
Grant, A. M. et al. Oral vitamin D3 and calcium for secondary prevention of low-trauma fractures in elderly people (Randomised Evaluation of Calcium Or vitamin D, RECORD): a randomised placebo-controlled trial. Lancet 365, 1621–1628 (2005).
Khaw, K. T. et al. Effect of monthly high-dose vitamin D supplementation on falls and non-vertebral fractures: secondary and post-hoc outcomes from the randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled ViDA trial. Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol. 5, 438–447 (2017).
Lyons, R. A. et al. Preventing fractures among older people living in institutional care: a pragmatic randomised double blind placebo controlled trial of vitamin D supplementation. Osteoporos. Int. 18, 811–818 (2007).
Smith, H. et al. Effect of annual intramuscular vitamin D on fracture risk in elderly men and women — a population-based, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Rheumatology 46, 1852–1857 (2007).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Competing interests
The authors declare no competing interests.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Chiodini, I., Gennari, L. Falls, fractures and vitamin D: a never-ending story?. Nat Rev Rheumatol 15, 6–8 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41584-018-0135-0
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41584-018-0135-0