Vitamin D Supplementation Actually Increased Risk Of Bone Fractures In Study

May 12, 2010: 05:58 PM EST

An Australian clinical trial involving more than 2,000 women aged 70 years and older at high-risk for fractures has found that a single annual 500,000 IU dose of cholecalciferol (vitamin D) actually increased the rate of falls and bone fractures compared to women who received a placebo. Earlier studies of vitamin D supplementation’s effect have been confusing, scientists said, with some showing a reduced risk and others showing no effect or an increased risk. Trial participants had a total of 5,404 falls during the five-year study period, with 74 percent of women in the vitamin D group and 68 percent of women in the placebo group having at least one fall. Vitamin D participants also had 26 percent more fractures. The researchers suggested that further study of vitamin D safety was warranted.

Bess Dawson-Hughes, MD; Susan S. Harris, DSc , "High-Dose Vitamin D Supplementation", Journal of the American Medical Association, May 12, 2010, © American Medical Association

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