Research paper
Randomized controlled trial of vitamin D supplementation in older people to optimize bone health
Study answer
What this study found
Vitamin D3 supplementation increased circulating 25(OH)D and lowered parathyroid hormone, but it did not improve hip bone mineral density over 12 months and there was no clear dose-related skeletal benefit. Hip BMD change did not differ between 24,000 IU and 12,000 IU (P = 0.39) or 48,000 IU and 12,000 IU (P = 0.08), and femoral neck BMD also showed no significant between-dose differences (P = 0.43 and P = 0.62). Twelve-month 25(OH)D concentrations were 55.9, 64.6, and 79.0 nmol/L in the 12,000, 24,000, and 48,000 IU groups, respectively, with P < 0.01 for the lower dose versus the two…
- Study & population
- Randomized controlled, single-center trial in community-dwelling adults aged 70 years and older from northeast England.
- Intervention
- Oral vitamin D3 once monthly for 12 months at one of three doses: 12,000 IU/mo, 24,000 IU/mo, or 48,000 IU/mo.
- Key limitation
- The trial was relatively short for a bone-health outcome and was conducted in a single regional sample of older adults, limiting generalizability.
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Open PDFOriginal abstract
ABSTRACT Background Vitamin D insufficiency is common in older people and may lead to increased bone resorption, bone loss, and increased falls and fractures. However, clinical trials assessing the effect of vitamin D supplementation on bone mineral …