<iframe src="//www.googletagmanager.com/ns.html?id=GTM-5HFCVX" height="0" width="0" style="display:none;visibility:hidden"></iframe>
Menu
Dr. Weil Logo Dr. Weil Logo Weil™ Andrew Weil, M.D.
  • Health & Wellness
    Health & Wellness
    Body, Mind & Spirit
    • Addiction
    • Allergy & Asthma
    • Autoimmune Disorders
    • Back Pain
    • Bone & Joint
    • Cancer
    • Colds & Flu
    • Dental & Oral
    • Diabetes
    • Disease & Disorders
    • Ears, Nose, & Throat
    • Feet
    • Gastrointestinal
    • Hair, Skin, & Nails
    • Headache
    • Heart
    • Insects & Parasites
    • Liver & Kidney
    • Mental Health
    • Pregnancy & Fertility
    • Respiratory
    • Sexual Health
    • Sleep Issues
    • Stress & Anxiety
    • Vision
    Balanced Living
    • Exercise & Fitness
    • Gardening
    • Healthy Home
    • Healthy Living
    • Meditation & Inspiration
    • Meet Dr. Weil
    • Pets & Pet Care
    • Technology
    • Wellness Therapies
    Health Centers
    • Aging Gracefully
    • Children
    • Condition Care Guide
    • Men
    • Women
  • Diet & Nutrition
    Diet & Nutrition
    Anti-Inflammatory Diet & Pyramid
    Anti-Inflammatory Diet Pyramid
    Cooking & Cookware
    Healthy Cooking &amp; Cookware
    Diets & Weight Loss
    Diets &amp; Weight Loss
    Food Safety
    Diets &amp; Nutrition - Food Safety
    Nutrition
    healthy nutrition
    Recipes
    healthy recipes
    Featured Articles
    • Recipes
      Immunity Soup
    • Food Safety
      Does Eating Organic Prevent Cancer?
    • Weekly Bulletin
      Food Allergies Examined In Adults
    • Videos
      Best Foods With Vitamin B12
    • Nutrition
      How Is The Slow Food Movement Doing?
  • Vitamins, Supplements & Herbs
    Vitamins, Supplements & Herbs
    Herbs
    herbal remedies - herbs
    Supplements & Remedies
    suppliments &amp; remedies
    Vitamins
    ask-dr-weil_vitamins-supplements-herbs_vitamins-topnav
    Weil Vitamin Advisor
    Weil Vitamin Advisor
  • Ask Dr. Weil
  • Blogs
    Blogs
    Bulletins
    blog_bulletins_topnav
    Health Tips
    blog_health-tips_topnav
    Spontaneous Happiness
    blog_spontaneous-happiness_topnav
  • Marketplace
  • Healthy Aging
  • Meet Dr. Weil
  • VITAMIN ADVISOR
Give Up Vitamin D For Musculoskeletal Health?
Newsletters Vitamin Advisor
Press "Enter" to search
  1. Home
  2. Health & Wellness
  3. Body, Mind & Spirit
  4. Bone & Joint
  5. Q & A

Give Up Vitamin D For Musculoskeletal Health?

I’ve heard that taking vitamin D doesn’t actually benefit bones or prevent fractures. Should I stop taking it?

– December 4, 2018

Give Up Vitamin D For Musculoskeletal Health | Andrew Weil, M.D.
0 shares
2 min

New evidence has shown that taking vitamin D supplements doesn’t protect against bone loss, fractures or falls, no matter how high or low the dose. These findings come from an analysis of 81 randomized controlled trials that included data on 53,537 participants who were taking vitamin D. The researchers, from New Zealand’s University of Auckland and the University of Aberdeen in Scotland, also saw no significant effect on bone density in the lumbar spine or femoral neck (the part of the thigh bone that connects to the hip joint).

The new investigation wasn’t the first to cast doubt on the benefits of taking vitamin D (and calcium) to reduce the risk of fractures. Earlier this year, I reported on research from China that came to the same conclusion after analyzing information from 33 randomized, placebo-controlled trials with data on 51,145 participants. Some of the trials focused on both supplements, while others looked at one or the other. The latest analysis looked only at vitamin D.

Based on the results of the investigation, the researchers saw “little justification to use vitamin D supplements to maintain or improve musculoskeletal health.” However, keep in mind that analyses are not studies – they can’t answer questions in the same way that studies can, and much other research supports the use of supplemental vitamin D, so it is unlikely that recommendations to take calcium and vitamin D will change.

As you may know, I recommend that everyone take 2000 IU of vitamin D daily for its many positive health effects. Even if further research suggests that it doesn’t benefit bones, there are other important reasons to continue taking vitamin D. It helps strengthen the immune system, protects against a number of serious diseases including rickets and osteomalacia, and may protect against hypertension, psoriasis, multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis.

Vitamin D also appears to play a role in defending against cancer. Studies have linked vitamin D deficiency to as many as 18 types of cancer.

The body makes vitamin D with exposure to sunlight, but many people don’t get optimal amounts, especially those living in industrialized countries in northern latitudes. In addition, sunscreen blocks vitamin D synthesis in the skin, and dermatologists have made us so fearful about UV damage that many people don’t get enough exposure to sunlight regardless of where they live.  Food sources of vitamin D include fortified milk and cereals as well as eggs, salmon, tuna, mackerel and sardines but it’s hard to get what you need, or optimal amounts, from diet alone.

Andrew Weil, M.D.

Source:
Allison Avenell et al, “Effects of vitamin D supplementation on musculoskeletal health: a system review, meta-analysis, and trial sequential analysis.” The Lancet Diabetes and Endocrinology, October 4, 2018, DOI: doi.org/10.1016/52213-8587

Read more tips, recipes, and insights on a wide variety of topics from Dr. Weil here.

probiotics to prevent bone loss
Supplements & Remedies

Probiotics To Prevent Bone Loss?

vitamin d prevent colon cancer
Vitamins

Can Vitamin D Prevent Colon Cancer?

Advertisement
Related Weil Products

Weil Vitamin Advisor For Supplements & Herbs

If you are interested in supplementing your diet, and want to take the mystery out of choosing vitamins, try the Weil Vitamin Advisor. Visit today for your free, personalized recommendation.
Get Started
What’s Right For Me?

Free Vitamin Recommendations

Dr. Weil on Healthy Aging

Start Your 14-Day Free Trial

Free Newsletters

Stay Connected With Dr. Weil

Anti-Inflammatory Diet

Follow Dr. Weil’s Food Pyramid

Custom Vitamin Plan - Weil Vitamin Advisor
Get Dr Weils Newsletter Updates

Stay Connected With Dr. Weil - Get Free Newsletters Right In Your Inbox

Trending Now

Shot of a senior woman using weights with the help of a physical therapist
Bone & Joint

A Better Drug for Bones?

Cropped shot of a young woman getting a neck massage at a spahttp://195.154.178.81/DATA/i_collage/pi/shoots/782839.jpg
Bone & Joint

A Pain in the Neck?

Swimmer
Bone & Joint

Aching With Arthritis?

Food supplement pills, glucosamine capsules, macro image, selective focus
Bone & Joint

Are Glucosamine Supplements Worthwhile?

Stay Connected With Dr. Weil - Get Free Newsletters Right In Your Inbox

Dr. Weil Logo Weil™ Andrew Weil, M.D.
Information
  • About Us
  • Press Information
  • Advertising
  • Contact Us
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Manage Email Subscription
Trending Articles
Shot of a senior woman using weights with the help of a physical therapist
Bone & Joint

A Better Drug for Bones?

Cropped shot of a young woman getting a neck massage at a spahttp://195.154.178.81/DATA/i_collage/pi/shoots/782839.jpg
Bone & Joint

A Pain in the Neck?

Daily Tips
Good Sources Of Vitamin C
Health Tips

10 Foods That Are Good Sources Of Vitamin C

Butter Or Margarine Healthier Choice
Health Tips

Is Butter Or Margarine The Healthier Choice To Use?

  • Flickr
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Youtube
  • Pinterest
  • Instagram

Terms of Use | Privacy Policy

Information on this website is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for the advice provided by your physician or other healthcare professional. You should not use the information on this website for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease, or prescribing any medication or other treatment. Any third party offering or advertising on this website does not constitute an endorsement by Andrew Weil, M.D. or Healthy Lifestyle Brands.

©Copyright 2019 Healthy Lifestyle Brands, LLC. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. www.drweil.com

Get Dr Weils Newsletter Updates

Stay Connected With Dr. Weil - Get Free Newsletters Right In Your Inbox