Association Between Calcium or Vitamin D Supplementation and Fracture Incidence in Community Dwelling Older Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Category: Research Updates

With:
Jia-Guo Zhao, MD1; Xian-Tie Zeng, MD1; Jia Wang, MD1; et al Lin Liu, MD2

Study Summary:
In this study, the authors stated “In this meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials, the use of supplements that included calcium, vitamin D, or both compared with placebo or no treatment was not associated with a lower risk of fractures among community-dwelling older adults. These findings do not support the routine use of these supplements in community-dwelling older people”

https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/article-abstract/2667071

ASBMR Statement:
On December 29th 2017, The American Society of Bone and Mineral Research issued a statement on this study, urging caution regarding the new findings.  “The American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR), the world’s leading scientific organization for bone health experts, urges caution to patients, their caregivers and physicians regarding the new findings published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (December 26, 2017) that found no clear benefit in the use of vitamin D and calcium supplements in older adults who live in the general community”.

For more details on the ASBMR statement, please go to:
http://www.asbmr.org/ASBMRStatementsDetail/recent-jama-study-questioning-benefits-of-vitamin-