New research suggests vitamin D supplements may not be effective in preventing bone fractures and diseases.
A research team analyzed over 100 trials and found no "significant risk reduction," the BBC reported.
People who are considered to be at risk including "babies, pregnant women and elderly people," are still advised to take the supplements.
The University of Auckland study found the supplements do not influence the risk of "heart disease, stroke or cerebrovascular disease, cancer and fractures by a noticeable amount," the BBC reported.
The review looked at randomized trials that analyzed the effects of pure vitamin D supplements and or those that were enhanced with calcium.
"In view of our findings, there is little justification for prescribing vitamin D supplements to prevent myocardial infarction or ischaemic heart disease, stroke or cerebrovascular disease, cancer, or fractures, or to reduce the risk of death in unselected community-dwelling individuals," the researchers said according to the BBC.
The researchers of the recent study are fairly confident future studies will turn up the same results, but Karl Michaelsson, from the department of surgical sciences at Uppsala University in Sweden, suggests a more "cautious approach."
Many researchers still suggest that vitamin D, sometimes called "the sunshine vitamin" deficiencies can increase the risk of certain conditions such as fractures, cancer, and cardiovascular disease. Others believe a vitamin D deficiency is "more likely to be the result of ill health and not the cause," the BBC reported.
"[The recent study] shows vitamin D has a relevant role to play, but it's not that important," Doctor Colin Michie, consultant senior lecturer in paediatrics and chairman of the nutrition committee at the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health said, the BBC reported. "This shows vitamin D has a relevant role to play, but it's not that important."
Michie suggests healthy individuals should rely more on lifestyle choices than supplements.
"Instead, the old-fashioned advice still holds true. Eat more fish, watch your diet and how you lead your life - unless you're specifically at risk," he said.
