Researchers found that taking vitamin D supplements do not improve the bone mineral density in all adults.
Bone mineral density is a measure of bone strength and measures the amount of bone mineral present at different sites in the body.
The measure is often considered as an indicator for the risk of osteoporosis, which can lead to an increased risk of fracture.
The research team analyzed the results after observing 23 various studies among nearly 4000 healthy adults with an average age of 59, according to the findings published in The Lancet.
The study unveils that use of vitamin D pills can ward off osteoporosis only in those older people who have the vitamin deficiency.
"Our data suggest that the targeting of low-dose vitamin D supplements only to individuals who are likely to be deficient could free up substantial resources that could be better used elsewhere in health care," said the study leader professor Ian Reid of the University of Auckland in New Zealand.
The results indicate that most healthy adults do not need vitamin D supplements, he emphasized.
Vitamin D can be supplied from sunlight on the skin, but it is also found in certain foods like oily fish, cheese, eggs and breakfast cereals.
The experts also warn that taking too much vitamin D in the form of supplements can be harmful because calcium can build up and damage the kidneys.
They also say, however, supplementation to prevent osteoporosis in healthy older people is not warranted, “maintenance of vitamin D stores in the elderly combined with sufficient dietary calcium consumption remains an effective approach for prevention of hip fractures."
FGP/FGP