Vitamin D May Not Benefit Bone Health Of Postmenopausal Women

New findings published in JAMA Internal Medicine reveal that high levels of vitamin D will not improve the bone health of post-menopausal women.

"We conclude that there is no reason to take more than the recommended daily allowance for vitamin D," Dr. Karen Hansen, lead author of the study, told Reuters.

Researchers at the University of Wisconsin discovered that women who took high doses of such supplements did for over a year's time were only absorbing slightly more calcium from their intestines into their blood when compared to women who took low doses of vitamin D or a dummy pill.

"While high-dose vitamin D did indeed increase calciumabsorption, the increase was only 1 percent and [it] did not translate into gains in spine, hip or total body bone mineral density," Dr. Hansen added, via WebMd.

The U.S. National Institutes of Health currently recommends that women receive a daily intake of about 600 international units (IU). For women over the age of 70, however, 800 IUs is the recommended amount.

For the latest study, researchers collected data from 230 women who were at least five years past menopause and did not have osteoporosis at the start of the study. Participants were 75 or younger.

Then, between 2010 and 2013, they were randomly assigned to take either 800 IUs or 50,000 IUs of vitamin D, or a dummy pill once every 15 days for about a year.

To further slowdown the progression of osteoporosis, researchers suggested that women also stay active by including weight-bearing exercises.

"There were no clinical benefits seen in either low dose or high dose vitamin D for bone health," Dr. Rita Redberg, editor-in-chief of JAMA Internal Medicine, said via Reuters. "I would recommend not starting vitamin D supplementation, or stopping Vitamin D if you have started."

However, researchers cautioned that the findings may not specifically apply to young adults, non-white women, and women over the age of 75 or men.

"I don't believe that my study is the last and definitive word on vitamin D," added Dr. Hansen, via Health Day.

Related Articles

Osteoporosis: New Treatment For Bone-Related Conditions

For more great science stories and general news, please visit our sister site, Headlines and Global News (HNGN).