Do vitamin D and calcium supplements work? Results of a new study

Supplements with calcium and vitamin D: effectiveness

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Scientists have investigated whether the long-term intake of calcium and vitamin D supplements affects health.

The results are disappointing – supplements still do not help, it is said in Annals of Internal Medicine, writes Forbes.

More than 36,000 elderly women took part in the study, who took a combination of vitamin D and calcium for 7 years, and then followed them for another 15 years. Scientists wanted to test whether supplements would help reduce the risk of hip fractures, prolong life, avoid cancer and cardiovascular disease.

About half of the women were prescribed daily vitamin D and calcium supplements. They were given 1,000 mg of calcium carbonate and 400 IU (International Units, i.e. the amount of substance) of vitamin D3 daily. The other half of the participants took placebo pills, but neither group knew what they were taking.

During 22 years, 1,817 women who took vitamins died of cancer. In the placebo group there were 1,943 of them, that is, 126 more deaths.

On the other hand, 2,621 women who took calcium and vitamin D died of heart disease, compared to 2,420 women in the placebo group. Thus, there were 201 more deaths among women taking vitamin D and calcium than those taking placebo.

Thus, in general, dietary supplementation seemed to didn’t do any goodand certainly did not reduce the risk of death.

That’s why doctors not advised to take any additional vitamins without a doctor’s prescription and previous studies. It is necessary to first determine whether there is a deficiency of vitamins, and only then use them.

At the same time, doctors advise to improve your diet in the winter and spring period and to include products that contain vitamins and trace elements.