VITAMIN D supplements are mainly pointless and could even be harmful, scientists claimed. They are recommended in autumn and winter to help prevent falls and fractures — as the vitamin maintains bone and muscle strength. New research claims Vitamin D pills are mostly useless and could even be harmful But a new study said there was no evidence to support that — and nothing to suggest it can help prevent other diseases including strokes. Mark Bolland from New Zealand’s University of Auckland said only those with severe vitamin D deficiency will benefit from supplements. Prof Bolland, who conducted the study with colleagues from the University of Aberdeen, said: “Otherwise we conclude current evidence does not support the use of vitamin D supplementation to prevent disease.” Taking supplements in the winter months has become standard practice, but experts have now suggested this might not be a good idea 'I FEAR I WON'T WAKE UP' 'NO ONE HAS HIT MY SON'
THE SUDDEN DEATH GENE HAIR DYE HEALTH SCARE Prof Tim Spector, of King’s College London, argued: “We have a strange love affair with vitamin supplements that makes the recent UK government message that everyone should take vitamin D in winter an easy sell.” He also said people who took too much “had an unexpected increased risk of falls and fractures” in trials. There was also internal damage to soft tissues and kidneys, he said. However Public Health England’s head of nutrition science, Louis Levy, said its advice was backed by musculoskeletal experts. He insisted: “For many, a supplement will be necessary.” This is why it's important for mums-to-be to get lots of Vitamin D during pregnancyIs Vitamin D pill useless? Those who pop vitamin D pills regularly, you may be better off simply spending your cash on fruit and vegetables as a recent study has suggested that the supplements give no protection against diseases. The vital nutrient that comes with the sun's rays is widely seen as an important element to good health.
Many people place strong belief in its potential benefits in treating a number of medical conditions, such as depression or Multiple Sclerosis, and feel a need to supplement their vitamin D intake. But according to lead author Michael Allan, much of that belief isn't validated by science. "Wouldn't it be great if there was a single thing that you or I could do to be healthy that was as simple as taking a vitamin, which seems benign, every day? There is an appeal to it. There is a simplicity to it. But for the average person, they don't need it." says Allan. The study examined the evidence for 10 common beliefs about vitamin D. The beliefs range from the ability of vitamin D to reduce falls and fractures, improve depression and mental well-being, prevent rheumatoid arthritis, treat Multiple Sclerosis, and lessen incidences of cancer and mortality. The review finds little evidence though that supplementation with this vitamin has much of an effect at all. According to Allan, only a few of the 10 beliefs the team looked into seemed to exhibit some scientific proof.
Strongest among them, vitamin D was shown to have a minor impact in reducing the number of falls among the elderly and reducing fractures. Allan says other possible benefits of vitamin D covered in the review were not borne out or are still unproven. He is quick to point out that much of the existing research around vitamin D was poorly executed and consists of poor quality evidence. While he welcomes ongoing research in the area, he says moving forward it needs to consistently be of a higher caliber to be of clinical relevance. The study is published in the Journal of General Internal Medicine. Doctors approve MRP move, manufacturing industry wary Mobile phones hand-hold mothers through pregnancy Health matters: The digestive system Sit with a difference: the lowdown on the kneeling chair All you need to know before you embark upon a protein-rich diet WATCH ABOVE: According to a new study from the University of Alberta, the benefits of taking a daily vitamin D supplement may not be as great as some believe.
Taking daily vitamin D supplements may not provide the great health benefits that many believe, according to new research out of the University of Alberta. “Wouldn’t it be great if there was a single thing that you or I could do to be healthy that was as simple as taking a vitamin, which seems benign, every day? But for the average person, they don’t need it.” Dr. Michael Allan, a professor of Family Medicine at the U of A, said.Vitamin D, sometimes called the sunshine vitamin, has been touted as a way to reduce falls and fractures, and prevent or treat multiple sclerosis, arthritis and depression. But according to Allan, much of that belief isn’t supported by science.READ MORE: Maintaining vitamin D levels key to battling seasonal depressionAllan and his colleagues reviewed 1,600 studies to examine evidence for 10 common beliefs about vitamin D. Their research, which looked at studies from the past decade, found little to no conclusive evidence that vitamin D supplementation offers any benefits.“
Even areas that we really thought there was good evidence for benefit early on, don’t seem to be bearing out,” Allan said.There was some evidence to suggest vitamin D supplements help when it comes to preventing falls and fractures in seniors. However, Allan said the benefit was very minimal and increasing the dosage actually increased the chance of a fall in frailer people.“If you were to take a group of people who were at higher risk of breaking a bone-so had about a 15 per cent chance of breaking a bone over the next 10 years-and treated all of them with a reasonable dose of vitamin D for a decade, you’d prevent a fracture in around one in 50 of them over that time.”“Many people would say taking a drug for 10 years to stop one in every 50 fractures is probably not enough to be meaningful. And that’s the best vitamin D gets as far as we know now.”Patrycia Rzechowka lives with MS, a disease linked to low vitamin D. Soon after her diagnosis she was told to take vitamin D.
While the research isn’t welcome news to the 27-year-old, she said she stopped taking the supplement for six months and noticed her symptoms got worse. Rzechowka is now back on it.“Until someone can come and say it definitely doesn’t work, it’s just a few pills so I’m going to keep taking it.”READ MORE: New study confirms link between low vitamin D and MSAllan said there is no harm in taking the recommended daily dose of 1,000 International Units per day. He’s also quick to point out that much of the existing research around vitamin D was poorly executed and consists of poor quality evidence. He admits more better quality research is needed.“There’s a difference between what research says and what belief says. And sometimes it will take a lot of really, really great research to erode that belief.”The MS Society of Canada provided the following statement to Global News.“The MS Society of Canada understands that the link between vitamin D deficiency and MS is a topic that is of great interest to people affected by MS.