Vitamin D and bone fracture mechanisms: what about the non-bone 'D'efense?

• Published in: International journal of clinical practice (Esher) Vol. 64; no. 5; pp. 541 - 543
• Main Authors: Annweiler, C., Beauchet, O.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.04.2010; Wiley-Blackwell; John Wiley & Sons, Inc
• Subjects: Accidental Falls; Adult; Biological and medical sciences; Bone and Bones - metabolism; Bone Density; Bone Density Conservation Agents - metabolism; Bone Density Conservation Agents - therapeutic use; Female; General aspects; Humans; Medical sciences; Osteoporotic Fractures - prevention & control; Vitamin D - metabolism; Vitamin D - therapeutic use; Osteoarticular system; Medicine; Vitamin D; Diseases of the osteoarticular system; Fracture; Bone; Trauma; Mechanism
• ISSN: 1368-5031; 1742-1241; 1742-1241
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1742-1241.2009.02322.x

Osteoporosis is a public health concern because of its high prevalence and consequences in terms of morbidity, mortality and health care costs (1). This growing epidemic highlights the problem of the 'knowledge paradox': on one hand there is an increase in medical knowledge about osteoporotic fractures but, on the other hand, the amount of bone fractures keeps increasing (1-3). In this context, any strategy preventing the occurrence of bone fractures, such as vitamin D supplementation, is welcome. For instance, a very recent meta analysis from Bischoff-Ferarri et al. underlined the efficacy of oral supplemental vitamin D, regardless of any additional calcium supplementation, in non-vertebral fractures prevention among more than 42,000 adults aged 65 years and older (2).