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 .
Effect of vitamin D supplementation on bone and vitamin D status among Pakistani immigrants in Denmark: a randomised double-blinded placebo-controlled intervention study.
Severe vitamin D deficiency is common among Muslim immigrants . The dose necessary to correct the deficiency and its consequence for bone health are not known for immigrants . The aim was to assess the effect of relatively low dosages of supplemental vitamin D on vitamin D and bone status in Pakistani immigrants . This 1-year-long r and omised double-blinded placebo-controlled intervention with vitamin D3 ( 10 and 20 microg/d ) included girls ( 10.1 - 14.7 years ) , women ( 18.1 - 52.7 years ) and men ( 17.9 - 63.5 years ) of Pakistani origin living in Denmark . The main endpoints were serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D ( S-25OHD ) , parathyroid hormone , bone turnover markers and bone mass . The study showed that supplementation with 10 and 20 microg vitamin D3 per d increased S-25OHD concentrations similarly in vitamin D-deficient Pakistani women ( 4-fold ) , and that 10 microg increased S-25OHD concentrations 2-fold and 20 microg 3-fold in Pakistani men . S-25OHD concentrations increased at 6 months and were stable thereafter . Baseline S-25OHD concentrations tended to be lower in girls and women than in men ; females achieved about 46 nmol/l and men 55 nmol/l after supplementation . Serum intact parathyroid hormone concentrations decreased at 6 months , but there was no significant effect of the intervention on bone turnover markers and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry measurements of the whole body and lumbar spine
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 .