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Health Effects of Vitamin D Supplementation: Lessons Learned From Randomized Controlled Trials and Mendelian Randomization Studies.

Journal of bone and mineral research : the official journal of the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research
October 1, 2023
Roger Bouillon et al. (3 authors)
Journal ArticleResearch Support, N.I.H., ExtramuralResearch Support, Non-U.S. Gov'tReviewHuman Study
Study Details

Study Goal

The researchers aimed to evaluate the effects of vitamin D supplementation on bone health, fractures, falls, cancer, cardiovascular disease, immune system disorders, multiple sclerosis, and mortality in community-dwelling adults.

Results Summary

The study found that vitamin D supplementation did not significantly reduce bone loss, fractures, falls, cancer incidence, hypertension, or cardiovascular risk in generally healthy populations. However, it suggested potential benefits for cancer mortality, immune system function (especially in vitamin D-deficient individuals or those with autoimmune diseases), and all-cause mortality.

Population

Community-dwelling adults, excluding older adults in residential communities or those with vitamin D deficiency or osteoporosis.

Effective Dosage

Not specified

Duration

Not specified

Interactions

None mentioned

Extracted Claims (9)
InterventionDirectionEndpointPopulationDosageImpactClaim #
vitamin D supplementation
no change
bone loss
generally healthy populations
-
does not decrease
#1
vitamin D supplementation
no change
fractures
generally healthy populations
-
does not decrease
#2
vitamin D supplementation
no change
falls
generally healthy populations
-
does not decrease
#3
vitamin D supplementation
no change
cancer incidence
generally healthy populations
-
does not decrease
#4
vitamin D supplementation
no change
hypertension
generally healthy populations
-
does not decrease
#5
vitamin D supplementation
no change
cardiovascular risk
generally healthy populations
-
does not decrease
#6
supplemental vitamin D
decrease
cancer mortality
-
-
suggest an effect
#7
vitamin D supplementations
increase
immune system
people with poor vitamin D status, autoimmune diseases, and multiple sclerosis
-
existence of extraskeletal benefits
#8
vitamin D
decrease
all-cause mortality
-
-
may reduce
#9
Abstract

Vitamin D plays an important role in calcium homeostasis and many cellular processes. Although vitamin D supplements are widely recommended for community-dwelling adults, definitive data on whether these supplements benefit clinically important skeletal and extraskeletal outcomes have been conflicting. Although observational studies on effects of vitamin D on musculoskeletal and extraskeletal outcomes may be confounded by reverse causation, randomized controlled studies (RCTs) and Mendelian randomization (MR) studies can help to elucidate causation. In this review, we summarize the recent findings from large RCTs and/or MR studies of vitamin D on bone health and risk of fractures, falls, cancer, and cardiovascular disease, disorders of the immune system, multiple sclerosis, and mortality in community-dwelling adults. The primary analyses indicate that vitamin D supplementation does not decrease bone loss, fractures, falls, cancer incidence, hypertension, or cardiovascular risk in generally healthy populations. Large RCTs and meta-analyses suggest an effect of supplemental vitamin D on cancer mortality. The existence of extraskeletal benefits of vitamin D supplementations are best documented for the immune system especially in people with poor vitamin D status, autoimmune diseases, and multiple sclerosis. Accumulating evidence indicates that vitamin D may reduce all-cause mortality. These findings, in mostly vitamin D-replete populations, do not apply to older adults in residential communities or adults with vitamin D deficiency or osteoporosis. The focus of vitamin D supplementation should shift from widespread use in generally healthy populations to targeted vitamin D supplementation in select individuals, good nutritional approaches, and elimination of vitamin D deficiency globally. © 2023 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR).

Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)
HumansDietary SupplementsFractures, BoneMendelian Randomization AnalysisMultiple SclerosisNeoplasmsRandomized Controlled Trials as TopicVitamin DVitamin D DeficiencyAdult
Study Links
Quality Scores
SafetyNot Assessed
Efficacy40/10
Quality85/10
Citation Metrics
Total Citations23
Citations/Year11.5
Relative Citation Ratio5.45
NIH Percentile93.9%
Research Impact Scores
APT Score0.95
Weight Score3.11
Normalized Score0.53
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