Vitamin D supplement in children will not prevent bone fractures as per new study by researchers of Queen Mary University of London and Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, published in Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology Journal.
A major clinical trial done by Queen Mary and Harvard over the period of 3 years among 8851 school children to determine whether Vitamin D supplement in children lower the risk of bone fracture or increase strength of bone in school going children. It is the largest randomised controlled study ever done over Vitamin D supplementation in children.
| Study By | Queen Mary University of London and Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health |
| Study | Randomised Controlled Study over 3 year |
| Research | Impact of Vitamin D Supplement on Bone Fracture in Children |
| Sample size | 8851 Children between 6 to 13 years of age |
| Conclusion | No Impact of Vitamin D Supplement on Bone Fracture in Children |
The trial has found that Vitamin D supplements do not increase the strength of the bone or prevent bone fracture in children with Vitamin D deficiency.
About 33 % of children have at least one fracture before the age of 18 years during their lifetime. So, this is a major global health problem which may lead to disability in the children and also poor quality of life.
The Study was conducted in Mongolia where there is high fracture burden and Vitamin D Deficiency is highly prevalent. Over the period of 3 years, 8851 children in the age group of 6-13 years living in Mongolia received weekly oral doses of Vitamin D supplementation. 95 % of the children had Vitamin D deficiency at the start of the clinical trial. Vitamin D supplements are highly effective to boost Vitamin D levels to normal range but they have no effect on fracture risk or bone strength.
Dr Ganmaa Davaasambuu, Associate Professor at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health said that in adults Vitamin D supplementation works best for prevention of the bone fracture when given along with Calcium supplement. The study was not conducted by giving calcium supplement along with Vitamin D supplement.
Professor Adrian Martineau, Lead of the Centre for Immunobiology at Queen Mary University of London told that the clinical trial was conducted on the children with low Vitamin D level who have not any bone complications but excluding those children who had Rickets. Thus our study findings are relevant for children with Vitamin D deficiency without bone complications. The importance of adequate vitamin D intake for prevention of rickets should not be ignored, and UK government guidance recommending a daily intake of 400 IU vitamin D remains important and should still be followed
Vitamin D deficiency in children presents like irritation, distraction, fatigue, learning difficulties, poor memory, bone pain, Rickets is a condition that affects the development of the bone in the children. It may lead to bone deformities. Adults may experience a similar condition known as Osteomalacia.
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