Millions of people around the world take calcium and vitamin D daily, hoping to strengthen their bones and reduce the risk of fractures. However, a new large-scale study has shown that for most older adults, such supplements provide little to no expected protective effect.
Falls remain one of the leading causes of injuries among older adults. According to statistics, approximately one in three people over the age of 65 falls each year. This often leads to fractures, chronic pain, loss of independence, and the need for long-term care. This is why fracture prevention is considered one of the priorities of modern medicine.
However, the usual recommendation to take calcium and vitamin D may not be as effective as previously thought.
This conclusion was reached by researchers from McGill University in Canada, led by Drs. Sumit Majumdar and Adrian Harvey. The researchers analyzed the results of 69 clinical trials involving 153,902 participants. The work was published in the prestigious medical journal The BMJ.
During the study, specialists compared the effects of calcium, vitamin D, and their combination with placebo or no treatment. Strict scientific criteria were used to assess the results, allowing researchers to determine how significant the effect is for patients' health.
"We found no convincing evidence that taking calcium, vitamin D, or their combination significantly reduces the risk of falls and fractures in most older adults," the authors of the study noted.
The analysis showed that the supplements did not provide noticeable protection against fractures in general, nor against the most dangerous hip fractures. Moreover, the results remained unchanged after accounting for the participants' sex, age, fall propensity, and the amount of calcium obtained from the regular diet.
"Even after conducting additional checks and statistical adjustments, no significant positive effect could be identified," the researchers emphasized.
At the same time, the scientists point out that the findings do not apply to individuals with severe bone tissue diseases, significant vitamin D deficiency, or patients who are already undergoing specialized osteoporosis treatment.
Experts also remind us that bone health depends not only on taking supplements. Regular physical activity, adequate protein intake, maintenance of muscle mass, fall prevention, and timely diagnosis of bone system diseases play an important role.
The new study questions the effectiveness of mass prescriptions of calcium and vitamin D for fracture prevention in older adults. The authors of the work believe that the decision to take such supplements should be made individually, taking into account a person's health status, rather than being used as a universal measure for bone protection.
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