Skip to main content
ARS Home » Northeast Area » Boston, Massachusetts » Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center On Aging » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #310825
Title: In response to Bolland and colleagues – The effect of vitamin D supplementation on skeletal, vascular, or cancer outcomes: a trial sequential meta-analysis

Author
item BISCHOFF-FERARRI, HEIKE - Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center On Aging At Tufts University
item ORAV, E JOHN - Harvard School Of Public Health
item WILLETT, WALTER - Harvard School Of Public Health
item DAWSON-HUGHES, BESS - Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center On Aging At Tufts University

Submitted to: Lancet Diabetes Endocrinology
Publication Type: Other
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/17/2014
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Bolland and colleagues performed a meta-analysis of randomized, controlled trials and concluded that vitamin D is ineffective in lowering risk of fracture, cancer, vascular disease, and mortality. While we agree that this analysis addresses an important question about the efficacy of vitamin D using novel and technically correct analytical methods, we are concerned about two aspects of their approach which may affect the scientific validity of their conclusions. Bolland and colleagues have declared their meta-analysis to be the gold standard of evidence and that incoming new trial data simply could not change the balance of evidence against vitamin D; however, we disagree with that conclusion because of their questionable selection of studies, their requirement of a stringent level of clinical improvement, and, importantly, the inherent limitations of the currently available evidence. Given the limited risk and cost of vitamin D supplementation, we believe that it is too early to recommend the cessation of trials and certainly too early to stop treatment with vitamin D.