A recent study challenges the long-held belief that vitamin D supplements prevent fractures in older people.
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) has issued updated guidelines based on an extensive review of vitamin D’s impact on fracture and fall risks among older adults and postmenopausal women.
Vitamin D is essential for bone health, immune function, inflammation regulation, and cognitive well-being. While our bodies can produce vitamin D when exposed to sunlight, many turn to dietary sources or supplements when sun exposure is limited.
Several factors can contribute to vitamin D deficiency, including insufficient sun exposure, aging, and high body fat percentage.
Previous research has linked chronic vitamin D deficiency to an increased risk of autoimmune conditions such as type 1 diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis. It’s also associated with osteoporosis, bone and joint pain, and muscle weakness. These issues can elevate the risk of falls and fractures, particularly in vulnerable populations like the elderly and postmenopausal women.
The USPSTF team analyzed 20 studies from 54 publications to assess the relationship between vitamin D intake and fracture risk in older adults and postmenopausal women.
Surprisingly, the findings revealed no significant correlation between vitamin D supplementation and reduced fall or fracture risk in postmenopausal women and older men with normal vitamin D levels and no history of fractures. This suggests that additional vitamin D supplements may be unnecessary for these groups.
These results will likely prompt the USPSTF to revise its recommendations on vitamin D supplementation for fracture prevention.
The current guidelines, established in 2018, advise postmenopausal women to consume at least 400 IU of vitamin D and 1,000 mg of calcium daily to prevent fractures.
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