1. It Can Help Prevent Bone Diseases, Such as OsteoporosisIt’s clear that vitamin D aids in the absorption of calcium. Without enough vitamin D in the body, there will not be enough of calcium’s active form, the hormone calcitriol.
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Calcium absorption allows the body to maintain a sufficient level of that element as well as phosphate, both of which promote the growth and maintenance of healthy, strong bones.That’s why getting enough vitamin D is critical for warding off bone diseases, such as rickets in children, osteomalacia in adults, and osteoporosis in older adults, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
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Rickets is marked by soft and weak bones in children. It is rare in the United States and is typically associated with developing countries. However, research shows that an inadequate level of vitamin D from a lack of sun exposure or diet can affect children anywhere in the world.
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Signs and symptoms of rickets include pain in the spine, pelvis, and legs, as well as delayed growth and muscle weakness.
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Osteomalacia refers to the softening of the bones due to vitamin D deficiency. Its signs include dull, aching pain in the legs, hips, pelvis, ribs, and back, though the condition often doesn’t have symptoms in its early stages.
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Osteoporosis is one of the main causes of fractures and broken bones in older adults. This bone disease results when the cycle of new bone creation and old bone loss becomes unbalanced and more bone is lost than created.
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Women who are past menopause are at the highest risk of osteoporosis, and as with osteomalacia, people with osteoporosis are often asymptomatic when the disease is in its early stages. Later symptoms may include a stooped posture, declining height, back pain, and an unexpected and immediate bone fracture.Given these facts, it’s no wonder that vitamin D supplements have long been touted as good for bone health. That said, observational research supports the idea that vitamin D supplements only make a meaningful difference if you have a deficiency. One study aimed to see if 2,000 international units (IU) of daily vitamin D3 supplements versus a placebo would reduce the risk of bone fractures over five years in over 25,000 healthy, nondeficient volunteers over age 50. And research confirmed that the supplements did not reduce risk.
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However, this study relied on observational data with many confounding variables, so it can’t be used to make blanket assumptions, says Alana Serota, MD, an internal medicine and metabolic bone physician at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City.
An additional review of 18 randomized controlled trials found that vitamin D supplements don’t prevent fractures in older people. Still, since the study didn’t target people with a deficiency, it doesn’t negate the value of supplementation in patients who truly need it, Dr. Serota notes.
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In fact, Serota says that vitamin D supplementation can help you achieve and maintain healthy vitamin D levels, particularly if you have or are at higher risk for a deficiency (like if you live in an area with long, dark winters).
