Taking vitamin D supplements may not improve bone health

After combining data from 81 randomized controlled trials, researchers found no bone benefits from supplementing the vitamin, according to the report in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology. “Our results show that there is little reason for adults to take vitamin D supplements for their bones to protect against fractures, except people from high risk groups, such as those who have a prolonged lack of exposure to sunshine,” said study coauthor Dr. Alison Avenell of the University of Aberdeen in the UK. “For example, older people in institutions who never go outside.” Vitamin D supplements have long been recommended to seniors for treating and preventing the bone-thinning disease osteoporosis.