Millions take calcium and vitamin D for bone health. A major review finds little benefit

A sweeping review of more than 153,000 adults found that calcium and vitamin D supplements, alone or together, do little to prevent fractures or falls in most older people. Researchers say the findings challenge routine supplementation for prevention and point instead toward strategies such as balance and resistance exercise. Calcium and vitamin D supplements are widely taken to support bone health, especially by older adults. But a large review published in The BMJ suggests that, for most older people, these supplements provide little to no meaningful protection against falls or broken bones. Falls are a major health concern as people age. Nearly one in three adults aged 65 and older falls each year, and those falls can lead to fractures, chronic pain, loss of independence, reduced quality of life, and in some cases a move into residential care.

Finding effective ways to prevent falls and fractures is therefore an important public health goal. Calcium and vitamin D have long been associated with bone health. Calcium is a major structural component of bone, while vitamin D helps the body absorb calcium and supports normal bone metabolism. Even so, previous evidence reviews have generally found that taking calcium or vitamin D alone does not reduce fracture risk. Results have been less consistent when the