2 May 2023 • Routine vitamin D supplementation didn't lower fracture rates in community-dwelling older adults. Published in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology, the study aimed to investigate if supplementing adults living in Australia with monthly doses of 60 000 international units (IU) vitamin D3 for 5 years or less altered the rate of fractures.

In the Australian D-Health randomized trial, 21,000 community-dwelling older adults (age range, 60–85) received either 60,000 IU of vitamin D3 monthly or placebo for 5 years. Results published in 2022 showed no reduction in 6-year mortality with vitamin D. Now, the researchers present 5-year fracture outcomes.

Study findings

• Over a median follow-up of 5·1 years, no significant differences were noted between the vitamin D and placebo groups in total fractures (5.6% and 5.9%) or in nonvertebral, hip, or major osteoporotic fractures
• Mean 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels during the trial were about 30 ng/mL in the placebo group and 45 ng/mL in the supplemented group.
• However, about one quarter of participants had estimated baseline levels <20 ng/mL and, even in that subgroup, vitamin D supplementation did not prevent fractures.

The researchers concluded that 5 years of routine vitamin D supplementation does not lower fracture rates in healthy community-dwelling older adults & highlight the lack of evidence to support supplementation in most patient groups.

Source: The Lancet | Read full story