ASMI: Vit D builds bones
January 13, 2014
The Australian Self Medication
Industry (ASMI) has said the role
of vitamin D in maintaining bone
health and preventing osteoporosis,
in combination with calcium, was
“indisputable.”
This follows an article titled
‘Vitamin D: Chasing a myth?’ in
Lancet Diabetes and Endocrinology
describing a review by French
researchers of observational
studies which suggested vitamin D
was beneficial in reducing risk of a
range of diseases including diabetes
and colorectal cancer.
However it was a different
story when these findings were
compared with randomised clinical
trials, where no reduction of risk
was found.
“It looks increasingly likely that
low vitamin D is not a cause but a
consequence of ill health.”
The Lancet said despite the
“growing body” of evidence
indicating that the vitamin
was not likely to prevent nonskeletal
disorders, there was still
strong support for its use from
many prominent members of
the research community, called
‘believers’, due to its relatively
low toxicity and the “glimmer” of
positivity from some trials.
ASMI said it agreed with the
Lancet that large clinical trials
would help to properly assess these
effects.
ASMI regulatory and scientific
affairs director Steve Scarff said
while vitamins and supplements
weren’t a panacea for chronic
disease prevention, they had a
legitimate place in the health
system.
“ASMI recognises that robust
evidence is essential if we want
to demonstrate vitamin D’s role in
preventing a range of non-skeletal
conditions.
Scarff also expressed concern
about people ceasing vitamin
D supplementation without
consultation “making themselves
vulnerable to future fractures.”
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