No evidence for Vitamin D benefit claims: Study

There is little evidence that vitamin D can help with health conditions other than bone fractures, and people may be given doses unnecessarily, according to a new Australian research.
Two researchers in Australia found further studies were needed to establish any link between Vitamin D deficiency and cancer risk, diabetes and infections, ABC news reported today.
The study was conducted by Royal Perth Hospital consultant pathologist and endocrinologist Paul Glendenning and University of Western Australia academic Gerard Chew.
"Unfortunately there is not been many randomised clinical trials which is the highest level of evidence that we need before we start to advise individuals they should be taking supplementation to prevent those sort of diseases," Glendenning said.

He said it was possible people were being unnecessarily tested and treated for low vitamin D levels.
"We need to be identifying those individuals that are going to be benefit from testing, and when we've tested those individuals, if their vitamin level is low, treat them," he added.

"While there are many studies exploring the link between extraskeletal diseases and vitamin D absorption, there is a risk of "reverse causation" skewing results and more research is needed," the study said.
"Illness can result in the contraction of outdoor activities, reduced sunlight exposure and, accordingly, low 25(OH)D concentration may be a consequence, rather than a cause, of disease," it added.

Glendenning said their work, published in the Medical Journal of Australia, did find some clear benefits of the vitamin.
"There is a pretty much consistent message that calcium with vitamin D reduces fractures and has effects on fall rates," he said.
In another article, the two scientists said frail, older patients with the highest likelihood of injury during a fall were most likely to benefit from supplements.
"There are specific sub groups within the population that are well worthwhile testing, but at the moment, we are awaiting more data before we adopt a routine population-wide type screening program," Glendenning said.

The article stated over 2,000 peer-reviewed articles have been published on the topics of vitamin D testing, deficiencies and benefits within the past 12 months.