The largest-ever study of vitamin D supplementation in children, led by Queen Mary University of London and Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, found that vitamin D supplements can prevent fractures and improve bone strength in children with vitamin D deficiency. The benefits of vitamin D for bone health have been shown to be contrary to previous assumptions, rather than improving them.
A large clinical trial conducted by Queen Mary University of London in collaboration with Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health found that vitamin D supplements increased bone strength and reduced the risk of fractures in children with vitamin D deficiency. It turned out not to. Research contradicts common beliefs about the effects of vitamin D on bone health.
Approximately one-third of children experience at least one bone fracture by the age of 18. This is a global health problem, as childhood fractures can lead to lifelong disability and reduced quality of life. Based on vitamin D's role in promoting bone mineralization, there has been increased interest in recent years in the potential of vitamin D supplements to improve bone strength. However, no clinical trials have previously been conducted aimed at testing whether vitamin D supplements can prevent bone fractures in children.
Research methods and results
Researchers from Queen Mary University and Harvard University are working with partners in Mongolia, where the burden of fractures is particularly high and vitamin D deficiency is highly prevalent, to determine whether vitamin D supplementation reduces the risk of fractures or A clinical trial was conducted to determine whether it increases bone strength. Elementary school students. This study recently Lancet Diabetes and Endocrinologyis the largest randomized controlled trial of vitamin D supplementation in children ever conducted.
Over a three-year period, 8,851 school children aged 6 to 13 in Mongolia received weekly oral vitamin D supplements. 95.5% of participants were vitamin D deficient at baseline, and study supplements were highly effective in raising vitamin D levels to normal range. However, using quantitative ultrasound he measured a subset of 1,438 participants and found no effect on fracture risk or bone strength.
what it means
The study results may prompt scientists, doctors, and public health experts to reconsider the effects of vitamin D supplements on bone health.
Dr. Gamma Davasambu, Associate Professor at Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, said:
“It is surprising that continuous, abundant vitamin D supplementation has no effect on fracture risk or bone strength in children with vitamin D deficiency.'' It is most effective in preventing fractures when administered simultaneously. Therefore, the fact that we did not provide trial participants with calcium along with vitamin D may explain the null results of this study.”
Professor Adrian Martineau, Director of the Center for Immunobiology at Queen Mary University of London, added:
“We also note that children found to have rickets during clinical trial screening were excluded from participation as it would not be ethical to provide them with a placebo (dummy drug). Therefore, our findings are only relevant for children with low vitamin D status who do not develop bone complications.The importance of adequate vitamin D intake for rickets prevention is ignored. UK government guidance recommending 400 IU of vitamin D per day remains important and should continue to be followed.”
Reference: “Vitamin D supplementation for fracture prevention in Mongolian schoolchildren: Secondary outcome analysis from a multicenter, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial” Davaasambuu Ganmaa, Polyna Khudyakov, Uyanga Buyanjargal, Enkhtsetseg Tserenkhuu, Sumiya Written by Erdenenbaatar, Chuluun – Erdene Aktay, Naranhu Yansanjaf, Baygal Dergelek, Munkzaya Ankhbat, Enkujargal Tzenjaf, Batbayar Ochirbat, Badamtsetseg Jargalsaikhan, Davasambu Enkumar, Adrian R. Martineau, 2023.12 1st of the month lancet Diabetes and endocrinology.
DOI: 10.1016/S2213-8587(23)00317-0
