Vitamin D supplementation in healthy elderly population did not reduce total fracture incidence

Vitamin D is a well-established component of bone metabolism. However, the efficacy and safety of vitamin D supplementation for the prevention of fractures in elderly healthy individuals is still unclear

This meta-analysis evaluated whether vitamin D supplementation reduces fracture risk in healthy adults aged ≥60 years without osteoporosis or other bone disease. Seven RCTs were included, comprising nearly 72,000 participants, and compared vitamin D supplementation with placebo.

Overall, vitamin D did not reduce total fracture incidence (RR 1.03), nor did it lower rates of non-vertebral fractures, osteoporotic fractures, or falls. Importantly, a subgroup analysis showed an increased risk of hip fractures in women receiving vitamin D (RR 1.34), with no heterogeneity across studies. This is clinically relevant, as many trials used high or intermittent vitamin D dosing without concurrent calcium and without baseline vitamin D

Clinical implication: Routine vitamin D supplementation alone should not be recommended for fracture prevention in healthy older adults, and caution is warranted—particularly in older women—when prescribing vitamin D without clear indications.

Link

Vitamin D Supplementation and the Incidence of Fractures in the Elderly Healthy Population: A Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. J Gen Intern Med. 2024 Nov;39(14):2829-2836. doi: 10.1007/s11606-024-08933-1. Epub 2024 Jul 12. PMID: 38997531;