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Vitamin D Supplements for Lowering the Risk of Fractures

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Vitamin D supplements improve the bone density of individuals. However recent studies have questioned the role of Vitamin D in the prevention of bone fractures.

Medically reviewed by

Dr. Anuj Gupta

Published At May 25, 2023
Reviewed AtFebruary 27, 2024

What Is Vitamin D?

Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin that is mainly involved in regulating the amount of calcium and phosphate in the body. These nutrient minerals are utilized by the body to maintain the proper functioning of the bones, teeth, and muscles in a healthy state. Vitamin D deficiency can lead to bone defects such as rickets in children, and osteomalacia in adults causing bone pain.

What Are the Good Sources of Vitamin D?

Vitamin D can be obtained directly from sunlight. It is present in a small quantity in food items also which include:

  • Fish (salmon, sardines).

  • Red meat.

  • Liver.

  • Egg.

Vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol D3) is a form of vitamin D that is readily available for use by the body. It can be obtained directly from natural sunlight or can be obtained from animal sources. Another form, vitamin D2 (ergocalciferol D2) is not easily absorbed by the body.

Can Vitamin D Supplements Lower the Risk of Fractures?

Vitamin D is considered a magical weapon both in the field of culture and science. There is a plethora of vitamin and dietary supplements available that people may use almost for everything. Vitamin D is one of the easiest options available in the market that is considered to be consumer friendly and that is suggested to have numerous health benefits. Vitamin D supplements have built a reputation for their role in maintaining bone density and preventing bone fractures. It was promised that popping a pill would prevent bone fractures and prevent other serious diseases too. But recent studies have objected to the purported role of vitamin D in preventing bone fractures. Several clinical trials in recent times have shown little or no added benefit of consuming vitamin D for improving bone health in adults.

New research shows that consuming vitamin D supplements do not provide any added benefits to the bone health of a healthy individual. Similarly, vitamin D does not prevent bone fractures in older people.

According to health researchers, people should stop the mindless popping of vitamin D supplements to prevent the risk of bone fractures. Clinical studies conducted in previous years also suggested that vitamin D supplements do not prevent bone fractures and bone density is also not increased.

The science behind the health benefits of vitamin D supplements is related to the numerous benefits of multivitamins in general. During the coronavirus pandemic, the sales of multivitamins soared as people were desperate to take each and every immunity booster to boost their immunity. The pharma industry saw a huge boost in its market. The anxiety of people to achieve good health and immunity acted as a catalyst that helped the pharma industry frame vitamin supplements as the sole providers of protection against the virus.

As recommended by health experts, people can obtain their healthy dose of vitamin D from sunlight and diet. For healthy adults, vitamin D supplements will not keep them away from fractures and other diseases as goes the famous saying, “more is not better”.

Researchers found out through a large clinical trial that daily doses of supplemental vitamin D did not reduce the rate of occurrence of bone fractures, nonvertebral fractures, and fractures of the hip. They also discovered that there are no differences in the mechanism of action of vitamin D supplements on bone fractures regardless of gender, body mass index, age, race, or ethnicity.

What Are the Side Effects of Vitamin D Supplements on Healthy Adults?

According to doctors, healthy adults should take 600 international units (IU) of vitamin D per day for adults. They can fulfill their dietary requirement of vitamin D from the natural sunlight or by consuming foods like fatty fish or red meat, and eggs. Too much Vitamin D can cause the following symptoms:

  • Feeling Dehydrated and Often Thirsty: Vitamin D helps to regulate calcium absorption in the body. But consuming an excessive quantity of vitamin D can cause hypercalcemia (when there is excessive calcium in blood plasma). The kidneys have to work harder to filter out too much calcium thereby causing excessive thirst for water and a frequent tendency to pee. Excessive calcium intake can cause kidney stones also.

  • Muscle Cramps and Aches: Muscle aches and cramping along with twitching and weakness can occur due to excessive intake of vitamin D.

  • One May Get Confused: Confusion, tiredness, and depression may be other side effects of vitamin D toxicity.

  • Nausea and Vomiting: The individual can have profound weight loss due to excessive nausea and vomiting.

  • Bone Pain and Experience Kidney Problems: Vitamin D toxicity or hypervitaminosis D may gradually progress to having pain in the bone and kidney problems due to the formation of calcium stones. The person may fall easily and get exposed to bone fractures also.

What Are the Precautions to Be Taken While Consuming Vitamin D Supplements?

  • Firstly it is important to consult the healthcare provider before taking any supplements.

  • Ten micrograms of Vitamin D a day is sufficient for the adult dietary allowance requirement.

  • One should not consume more than 4000 international units (100 micrograms) of Vitamin D supplements as they can be detrimental to the health of the individual. This applies to pregnant and breastfeeding women, adults, children aged between 11 to 17 years, and elderly people.

  • Children aged between one to ten years should not consume more than 2000 international units (50 micrograms) of vitamin D per day.

  • Infants less than 12 months of age can be given only up to 1000 international units of dosage (25 micrograms).

  • One cannot obtain an overdose of vitamin D from the natural sunlight but if staying in the sun for a longer period, try to cover up as it can increase the chances of acquiring skin cancer.

Conclusion:

Taking vitamin D supplements to prevent bone fractures is more of a myth. There is no such truth that multivitamin supplements can provide immunity and good health to a healthy individual. These supplements help when there is a deficiency of any vitamin in the body. The consumption of vitamin D remains a topic of controversy among health experts in a healthy adult. More advanced research is still going on but it is best suggested to cautiously approach this never-ending zone of pill-popping multivitamin supplements including vitamin D. When in doubt, always consult a physician and think twice before falling prey to the health supplements.

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Dr. Anuj Gupta
Dr. Anuj Gupta

Spine Surgery

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