A new study suggests that the intake of Vitamin D supplements to decrease the risk of osteoporosis is unnecessary for healthy adults and can even affect their bone density.
The study involved researchers from New Zealand's University of Auckland who examined data from 23 studies involving 4,000 healthy adults from Australia, Finland, Holland, Norway, the U.S and the U.K.
Using meta-analysis on the trials until July 2012, the researchers investigated the vitamin D supplements' impact on the healthy adults, specifically on their bone mineral density.
Bone mineral density is an indicator of a person's risk of osteoporosis. The test measures and assesses bone strength and the quantity of bone minerals in the body.
After the healthy participants took vitamin D supplements for two years, they did not show any signs of getting any benefit from it. There were minimal increases in bone density around the femur and hip joint which can be significant statistically but not clinically.
"Our data suggest that the targeting of low-dose vitamin D supplements only to people who are likely to be deficient could free up substantial resources that could be better used elsewhere in healthcare," lead researcher Prof. Ian Reid told BBC.
"I'm not surprised they didn't find any evidence of the effects of vitamin D on bone density because there are so many other factors involved in osteoporosis, like genes, diet and environment," added co-researcher Dr Laura Tripkovic from the University of Surrey.
According to the National Institutes of Health, people can stay under the sunshine 10 to 15 minutes three times a week to complete the required amount of vitamin D. Other sources are dairy products, fatty fish, oysters, and fortified meals such as cereals, margarine, and soy milk.
Adults are recommended to take Vitamin D supplements of 0.01mg daily. Babies on the other hand should take 0.007-0.0085mg of Vitamin D drops per day. Too much vitamin D may cause high levels of calcium in the blood which can lead to kidney damage.
The study was published in the Oct. 11 issue of The Lancet.
