Comprehensive Review Questions Routine Calcium and Vitamin D Supplementation for Bone Health
A large-scale review published in a peer-reviewed journal has cast doubt on the widespread practice of recommending calcium and vitamin D supplements for bone health in older adults.
The review analyzed data from over 153,000 participants and evaluated the effects of calcium and vitamin D supplementation—whether taken separately or in combination—on fracture and fall prevention. The findings revealed that neither supplement regimen demonstrated meaningful benefits for most older individuals in reducing either fractures or falls.
Researchers behind the review suggest that current clinical guidelines supporting routine supplementation for bone health prevention may need reconsideration. Instead, they point toward alternative strategies with stronger evidence, including balance training exercises and resistance training, which have shown more consistent benefits for maintaining bone density and reducing fall risk in aging populations.
The study highlights a disconnect between supplement use—often encouraged by marketing and longstanding medical tradition—and the actual clinical evidence for efficacy in fracture prevention among community-dwelling older adults without specific nutrient deficiencies.