Vitamin D and Health

Adults (under 50 years)
Table 14: RCTs on effect of vitamin D supplementation on bone health indices in adults < 50y
Author/Year Population Intervention/
duration
Mean baseline 25(OH)D
concentration (nmol/L)
Mean post intervention
25(OH)D concentration
(nmol/L)
Effects on bone health indices
Islam et al (2010)
Dhaka, Bangladesh
Pre-menopausal
women (n=200)
Age: 8-36 y
1. 10 µg/d
2. 10 µg/d & 600 mg calcium
3. 10 µg/d & 600 mg calcium
& multiple mineral
supplement
4. Placebo
Duration: 1 year
1. 37.1 (12.1)
2. 37.8 (10.9)
3. 36.9 (12.5)
4. 35 (9.4)
Increased by:
1. 32.2 (23.6)
2. 32.4 (24.3)
3. 27.9 (24.8)
4. 0.5 (13.8)
Significant increase in BMD & BMC at
femoral neck in supplemented groups
compared to placebo (p < 0.001)
Significant increase in BMD & BMC of greater
trochanter and Ward’s triangle compared
with the placebo group (p < 0.05).
No significant differences in BMD and BMC
of the lumbar spine.
Table 15: Meta-analyses on effects of vitamin D supplementation on muscle strength in adults < 50y
Study Methods Results Conclusions
Tomlinson et al (2014)
Selection criteria
Inclusion: publication in English, inclusion of control
group, muscle strength measured as one of the
primary outcomes; at least one arm of study
included supplementation of participants with
vitamin D only.
Included trials
6 RCTs, 1 controlled trial (n=310 adults; mean age 24.1y (range 21.5-31.5y).
Vitamin D supplement dose range: 50 µg/d to 1500 µg/wk.
6 trials administered D3; 1 trial did not specify vitamin D type.
Outcome measures
Vitamin D
supplementation improves
upper and lower limb
muscle strength in adults
under 40y.
Exclusion: Aged < 18 y; non-healthy participants.
Outcome measure
Upper and lower limb muscle strength.
Upper limb strength
Vitamin D supplementation had significant effect
SMD= 0.32 (95% CI, 0.10-0.54) (p = 0.005)
Lower limb strength
Vitamin D supplementation had significant effect
SMD= 0.32 (95% CI, 0.01-0.63) (p = 0.04))
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