Vitamin D, calcium may not be as helpful for strong bones as thought

Now, a new study published in the journal BMJ says that vitamin D, calcium, or a combination of the two, may not offer as much bone protection as once thought, providing little to no meaningful protection against fractures or falls in older adults.

Past research shows that falls are the second leading cause of unintentional injury-related death globally.

For this reason, older adults are more prone to falls and fractures. In the U.S. , about 1 in 4 older adults ages 65 or older experiences a fall each year, with about 37% resulting in an injury that requires medical attention.

It’s not uncommon to lose bone density or mass as we get older. As we age , our bones begin to break down, making them more porous and more prone to fractures. Hormonal changes , such as those associated with menopause , can also speed up bone density loss.

At the study’s conclusion, scientists found little to no decline in overall fracture risk from either supplement by itself or taken together. Additionally, they reported little to no benefit in preventing specific fractures, such as hip fractures, or in reducing fall risk.

These studies all examined how calcium supplements, vitamin D supplements, or a combination of both impacted fall or fracture risk compared to a placebo or no treatment.

Medical News Today spoke with Dung Trinh, MD, internist for MemorialCare Medical Group and chief medical officer of Healthy Brain Clinic in Irvine, CA, who was not involved in this study, commented that while this study is important, readers should find it clarifying rather than alarming.

“Calcium and vitamin D are important nutrients, but the BMJ review reinforces that supplements alone are not a meaningful fall- or fracture-prevention strategy for most older adults,” Trinh explained.

“I would not want patients to interpret this as ‘my bones are doomed’ or ‘I should stop everything my doctor prescribed.’ The real takeaway is that bone health requires an individualized, comprehensive approach, especially for people with osteoporosis, vitamin D deficiency, very low calcium intake, malabsorption, kidney disease, or other medical conditions,” he said.

MNT also spoke with Jocelyn Wittstein, MD, an associate professor of orthopedic surgery at Duke University School of Medicine in North Carolina and co-author of the book The Complete Bone and Joint Health Plan: Help Prevent and Treat Osteoporosis and Arthritis, who emphasized that diet is just one part of fracture prevention.

“It has long been understood that calcium supplementation alone does not improve bone density or reduce fracture risk, and it is also known that calcium supplementation combined with vitamin D primarily benefits those with a vitamin D deficiency,” Wittstein, who was also not involved in this study, explained.

“I have always recommended getting calcium from food-based sources due to the known benefits of food synergy and the overall food matrix,” she said.

While calcium and vitamin D are important micronutrients for bone health, Wittstein said there are other micronutrients that are also important, such as:

Magnesium — a necessary co-factor for vitamin D, also part of the structure of bone, and helps regulate parathyroid hormone (PTH)

Vitamin C — helps with collagen cross-linking

Vitamin K2 — activates osteocalcin and helps with bone mineralization