Vitamin D supplementation for prevention of mortality in adults

Abstract

Vitamin D3 seemed to decrease mortality in elderly people living independently or in institutional care. Vitamin D2, alfacalcidol and calcitriol had no statistically significant beneficial effects on mortality. Vitamin D3 combined with calcium increased nephrolithiasis. Both alfacalcidol and calcitriol increased hypercalcaemia. Because of risks of attrition bias originating from substantial dropout of participants and of outcome reporting bias due to a number of trials not reporting on mortality, as well as a number of other weaknesses in our evidence, further placebo-controlled randomised trials seem warranted.

The role of calcium and vitamin D medications in prevention and treatment of osteoporosis

“…Кроме того, систематический обзор выполненный на основании анализа 159 рандомизированных клиниче-ских исследований, показал, что регулярный прием вита-мина D снижал смертность среди людей пожилого возрас-та [46].…”

Understanding the pathogenesis of hip fracture in the elderly, osteoporotic theory is not reflected in the outcome of prevention programmes

“…Nonetheless, low plasma 25hydroxy vitamin D concentration is associated with high arterial blood pressure and the risk of hypertension [5] , and therefore a constant therapy of vitamin D, either alone or combined with calcium, for the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis, in the absence of explicit risk factors for vitamin D deficiency, appears to be inappropriate [6,7] . Indeed, this therapy may provoke a significant rise in gastroin testinal symptoms and renal diseases [6] .…”

“…Yet despite the dangers, nearly half of all over50s continue to use these supplements [8] . The effect of vitamin D on the mortality of the elderly is in fact very odd: Whereas vitamin D3 seems to decrease mortality, vitamin D2, alfacalcidol and calcitriol apparently have no beneficial effects at all [6] , and may even provoke hypercalcaemia; moreover, if vitamin D3 is administered together with calcium supplementation, the risk of nephrolithiasis is increased [7] . However, the current use of vitamin D by elderly people as a strategy for the prevention of hip fracture could be promoted just for its effects on muscular atrophy.…”

Risks and benefits of UV radiation in older people: More of a friend than a foe?

“…A separate meta-analysis concluded that Vitamin D3 supplementation appeared to reduce mortality only in older female subjects living either independently or in institutional care [15].…”