For hip fracture , at a 15 % relative risk , the effect estimate lay between the futility boundary and the inferior boundary , meaning there is reliable evidence that vitamin D supplementation does not reduce hip fractures by this amount , but uncertainty remains as to whether it might increase hip fractures .
The effect estimate lay within the futility boundary at thresholds of 0·5 % for total hip , forearm , and total body bone mineral density , and 1·0 % for lumbar spine and femoral neck , providing reliable evidence that vitamin D does not alter these outcomes by these amounts .
INTERPRETATION Our findings suggest that vitamin D supplementation does not prevent fractures or falls , or have clinical ly meaningful effects on bone mineral density .
There were no differences between the effects of higher and lower doses of vitamin D. There is little justification to use vitamin D supplements to maintain or improve musculoskeletal health .
BACKGROUND The effects of vitamin D on fractures , falls , and bone mineral density are uncertain , particularly for high vitamin D doses .
We aim ed to determine the effect of vitamin D supplementation on fractures , falls , and bone density .
Randomised controlled trial of vitamin D supplementation in sarcoidosis
Objectives The role vitamin D intake/production plays in sarcoidosis-associated hypercalcaemia is uncertain . However , authoritative review s have recommended avoiding sunlight exposure and vitamin D supplements , which might lead to adverse skeletal outcomes from vitamin D insufficiency . We investigated the effects of vitamin D supplementation on surrogate measures of skeletal health in patients with sarcoidosis and vitamin D insufficiency . Design R and omised , placebo-controlled trial . Setting Clinical research centre . Participants 27 normocalcaemic patients with sarcoidosis and 25-hydroxyvitamin D ( 25OHD ) < 50 nmol/L. Intervention 50 000 IU weekly cholecalciferol for 4 weeks , then 50 000 IU monthly for 11 months or placebo . Primary and secondary outcome measures The primary endpoint was the change in serum calcium over 12 months , and secondary endpoints included measurements of calcitropic hormones , bone turnover markers and bone mineral density ( BMD ) . Results The mean age of participants was 57 years and 70 % were women . The mean ( SD ) screening 25OHD was 35 ( 12 ) and 38 ( 9 ) nmol/L in the treatment and control groups , respectively . Vitamin D supplementation increased 25OHD to 94 nmol/L after 4 weeks , 84 nmol/L at 6 months and 78 nmol/L at 12 months , while levels remained stable in the control group . 1,25-Dihydroxy vitamin D levels were significantly different between the groups at 4 weeks , but not at 6 or 12 months . There were no between-groups differences in albumin-adjusted serum calcium , 24 h urine calcium , markers of bone turnover , parathyroid hormone or BMD over the trial . One participant developed significant hypercalcaemia after 6 weeks ( total cholecalciferol dose 250 000 IU ) . Conclusions In patients with sarcoidosis and 25OHD < 50 nmol/L  , vitamin D supplements did not alter average serum calcium or urine calcium , but had no benefit on surrogate markers of skeletal health and caused one case of significant hypercalcaemia . Trial registration This trial is registered at the Australian New Zeal and Clinical Trials Registry ( http://www.anzctr.org.au ) . The registration number is ACTRN12607000364471 , date of registration 5/7/2007
For hip fracture , at a 15 % relative risk , the effect estimate lay between the futility boundary and the inferior boundary , meaning there is reliable evidence that vitamin D supplementation does not reduce hip fractures by this amount , but uncertainty remains as to whether it might increase hip fractures .
The effect estimate lay within the futility boundary at thresholds of 0·5 % for total hip , forearm , and total body bone mineral density , and 1·0 % for lumbar spine and femoral neck , providing reliable evidence that vitamin D does not alter these outcomes by these amounts .
INTERPRETATION Our findings suggest that vitamin D supplementation does not prevent fractures or falls , or have clinical ly meaningful effects on bone mineral density .
There were no differences between the effects of higher and lower doses of vitamin D. There is little justification to use vitamin D supplements to maintain or improve musculoskeletal health .
BACKGROUND The effects of vitamin D on fractures , falls , and bone mineral density are uncertain , particularly for high vitamin D doses .
We aim ed to determine the effect of vitamin D supplementation on fractures , falls , and bone density .