Subgroup analyses in the observational studies indicated that risk of mortality was significantly higher in studies with lower baseline use of vitamin D supplements .
The effects observed for vitamin D3 supplementation remained unchanged when grouped by various characteristics .
However , for vitamin D2 supplementation , increased risks of mortality were observed in studies with lower intervention doses and shorter average intervention periods .
Conclusions Evidence from observational studies indicates inverse associations of circulating 25-hydroxyvitamin D with risks of death due to cardiovascular disease , cancer , and other causes .
Objective To evaluate the extent to which circulating biomarker and supplements of vitamin D are associated with  mortality from cardiovascular , cancer , or other conditions  , under various circumstances .
Vitamin D supplementation and the prevention of fractures and falls: results of a randomised trial in elderly people in residential accommodation.
OBJECTIVES To determine whether vitamin D supplementation reduces the risk of fracture or falls in elderly people in care home accommodation . DESIGN A r and omised controlled trial of cluster design . SETTING AND SUBJECTS 223 Residential units ( mainly identical 30-bedded units ) , within 118 homes for elderly people throughout Britain , with 3,717 participating residents ( 76 % women , average age 85 years ) . The units provided mainly or entirely residential care ( 35 % of residents ) , nursing care ( 42 % ) or care for elderly mentally infirm ( EMI ) residents ( 23 % ) . METHODS Participants were r and omly allocated by residential unit ( cluster design ) to a treated group offered ergocalciferol 2.5 mg every 3 months ( equivalent to a daily dose of 1,100 IU ) , or to a control group .  Fractures were reported by staff and confirmed in hospital , and routinely collected data on reported falls were obtained . RESULTS After median follow-up of 10 months ( interquartile range 7 - 14 months ) , 64 ( 3.6 % ) of 1,762 vitamin D-treated residents and 51 ( 2.6 % ) of 1,955 controls had one or more non-vertebral fractures , and 24 ( 1.3 % ) and 20 ( 1.0 % ) , respectively , had a hip fracture . The proportion reporting at least one fall was 44 % in vitamin D-treated and 43 % in control residents . The differences between the vitamin D and control groups were not statistically significant . The incidence of all non-vertebral fractures in the care homes ( 3.2 % per year ) and of hip fractures ( 1.1 % per year ) was low , similar to rates in elderly people in sheltered accommodation , and the pre-treatment serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D concentration was high [ median 47 nmol/l , measured in a 1 % ( n = 18 ) sample ] . CONCLUSIONS We found no evidence that vitamin D prevents fractures or falls in elderly people in care home accommodation
Subgroup analyses in the observational studies indicated that risk of mortality was significantly higher in studies with lower baseline use of vitamin D supplements .
The effects observed for vitamin D3 supplementation remained unchanged when grouped by various characteristics .
However , for vitamin D2 supplementation , increased risks of mortality were observed in studies with lower intervention doses and shorter average intervention periods .
Conclusions Evidence from observational studies indicates inverse associations of circulating 25-hydroxyvitamin D with risks of death due to cardiovascular disease , cancer , and other causes .
Objective To evaluate the extent to which circulating biomarker and supplements of vitamin D are associated with  mortality from cardiovascular , cancer , or other conditions  , under various circumstances .