High-Dose Vitamin D for Bone Health May Do More Harm Than Good.

 

  A study on Effect of High-Dose Vitamin D Supplementation on Volumetric Bone Density and Bone Strength A Randomized Clinical Trial, by Lauren A. Burt, PhD; Emma O. Billington, MD, FRCPC¹; Marianne S. Rose, PhD; et al Duncan A. Raymond, MS; David A. Hanley, MD, FRCPC; Steven K. Boyd, PhD, published in JAMA. 2019;322(8):736-745. doi:10.1001/jama.2019.11889, indicates High-Dose Vitamin D for Bone Health May Do More Harm Than Good.

 

Results  Of 311 participants who were randomized (53% men; mean [SD] age, 62.2 [4.2] years), 287 (92%) completed the study. Baseline, 3-month, and 3-year levels of 25(OH)D were 76.3, 76.7, and 77.4 nmol/L for the 400-IU group; 81.3, 115.3, and 132.2 for the 4000-IU group; and 78.4, 188.0, and 144.4 for the 10 000-IU group. There were significant group × time interactions for volumetric BMD. At trial end, radial volumetric BMD was lower for the 4000 IU group (−3.9 mg HA/cm³ [95% CI, −6.5 to −1.3]) and 10 000 IU group (−7.5 mg HA/cm³ [95% CI, −10.1 to −5.0]) compared with the 400 IU group with mean percent change in volumetric BMD of −1.2% (400 IU group), −2.4% (4000 IU group), and −3.5% (10 000 IU group). Tibial volumetric BMD differences from the 400 IU group were −1.8 mg HA/cm³ (95% CI, −3.7 to 0.1) in the 4000 IU group and −4.1 mg HA/cm³ in the 10 000 IU group (95% CI, −6.0 to −2.2), with mean percent change values of −0.4% (400 IU), −1.0% (4000 IU), and −1.7% (10 000 IU). There were no significant differences for changes in failure load (radius, P = .06; tibia, P = .12).
Conclusions and Relevance  Among healthy adults, treatment with vitamin D for 3 years at a dose of 4000 IU per day or 10 000 IU per day, compared with 400 IU per day, resulted in statistically significant lower radial BMD; tibial BMD was significantly lower only with the 10 000 IU per day dose. There were no significant differences in bone strength at either the radius or tibia. These findings do not support a benefit of high-dose vitamin D supplementation for bone health; further research would be needed to determine whether it is harmful.