Calcium and Vitamin D Supplements Provide Little Benefit for Bone Health

Calcium and vitamin D supplements provide little to no clinically meaningful benefit in preventing falls and fractures for most older adults, researchers said.

These findings challenge the widespread practice of prescribing these supplements to aging populations to combat bone density loss and injury. Because these supplements are commonly used, the results may shift how healthcare providers approach preventative care for the elderly.

The systematic review was published in the British Medical Journal (BMJ) in the United Kingdom in May 2026 [1, 2]. Researchers analyzed 69 trials ^[3] involving approximately 154,000 adults ^[2]. The study evaluated whether calcium supplements, vitamin D supplements, or a combination of both offered protection against fractures and falls.

According to the review, the results indicate that these interventions do not provide a significant clinical advantage for the general older population [1, 2, 3]. The researchers said they sought to evaluate the effectiveness of these supplements due to their prevalence in medical regimens for older adults [1, 2].

The implications of the study are broad, as almost a third of people aged 65 and older are potentially affected by these findings ^[1]. The review suggests that for the majority of this demographic, the routine use of these specific supplements may not be an effective strategy for reducing the risk of injury.

While the study indicates a lack of meaningful benefit for most, the researchers said they focused on the systematic evaluation of existing data to provide a comprehensive overview of supplement efficacy [1, 2].