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 .
No significant effect on bone mineral density by high doses of vitamin D3 given to overweight subjects for one year
Background In meta-analyses supplementation with vitamin D appears to reduce incidence of fractures , and in cross-sectional studies there is a positive association between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D ( 25(OH)D ) levels and bone mineral density ( BMD ) . However , the effect of supplementation with high doses of vitamin D on BMD is more uncertain and could in theory have both positive and negative effects . Methods The study was a one year , double blind placebo-controlled intervention trial performed at the University Hospital of North Norway . 421 subjects , 21 - 70 years old , were included and 312 completed the study . The subjects were r and omized to vitamin D3 40.000 IU per week ( DD group ) , vitamin D3 20.000 IU per week ( DP group ) , or placebo ( PP group ) . All subjects were given 500 mg calcium daily . Serum 25(OH)D , osteoprotegrin ( OPG ) , receptoractivator of nuclear factor-kappaB lig and ( RANKL ) , and BMD at the lumbar spine and the hip were measured before and at the end of the study . Results At baseline the mean serum 25(OH)D levels were 58 nmol/L ( all subjects ) and increased to 141 and 100 nmol/L in the DD and DP groups , respectively . After one year , no significant differences were found between the three groups regarding change in BMD , serum OPG or RANKL . Conclusions Supplementation with high doses of vitamin D for one year does not appear to have a negative effect on  BMD in healthy subjects . In order to disclose a positive effect , subjects with low BMD and /or low serum 25(OH)D levels need to be studied . Trial registration The trial was registered at Clinical Trials.gov ( NCT00243256 )
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 .