Key Summary
- Taking daily calcium and vitamin D pills does not actually protect most older adults from falls or broken bones.
- About one-third of adults over the age of 65 experience a fall every year.
- The researchers urged health agencies and doctors to rethink whether they should be recommending these supplements to generally healthy seniors.
A new study found that taking daily calcium and vitamin D pills does not protect older adults from falls or broken bones.
The study, published in The BMJ, found a small mathematical reduction in fractures when calcium and vitamin D were taken together.
However, the researchers dismissed it because the real-world impact was practically invisible.
The findings challenge decades of standard medical advice. Researchers say it is time for health agencies and doctors to rethink whether they should be recommending these supplements to generally healthy seniors.
To get these results, researchers looked at data from 69 different clinical trials involving more than 153,000 people. Most of the participants were adults over 65 who lived independently and were not at a high risk for bone disease.
Finding ways to prevent falls is a massive global health priority. About one-third of adults over the age of 65 experience a fall every year. These accidents often lead to severe pain, a loss of independence, and high healthcare costs.
The researchers stressed that these findings only apply to healthy older adults. People with severe bone conditions, those taking prescription osteoporosis medications, or patients on long-term steroids should still follow their doctor’s specific advice.
The study was conducted by a team of clinical researchers and pharmacists in Canada, led by Olivier Massé. The team is primarily based at the CIUSSS du Nord-de-l'Île-de-Montréal (a major regional health and social services network in Quebec, Canada), including its Department of Pharmacy and Research Center.
