According to a news release from the University of Auckland, new research reveals that the use of vitamin D pills to guard against osteoporosis aren’t necessary for healthy older people. The researchers found that taking vitamin D pills doesn’t better bone mineral density in adults with a normal vitamin D level.

Professor Ian Reid from the University of Auckland’s Bone Research Group and fellow researchers examined the impacts of vitamin D pills on bone mineral density. They looked at the data from more than 4,000 healthy adults in 23 randomized trials.

The researchers discovered that taking vitamin D pills didn’t enhance bone mineral density at the hip, spine, forearm, or in the body as a whole.

“Most healthy adults do not need vitamin D supplements” notes Reid in a statement. “Our data suggest that the targeting of low-dose vitamin D supplements only to individuals who are likely to be deficient could free up substantial resources that could be better used elsewhere in healthcare.”

“This systematic review provides very little evidence of an overall benefit of vitamin D supplementation on bone density. Continuing widespread use of vitamin D for osteoporosis prevention in community-dwelling adults without specific risk factors for vitamin D deficiency seems inappropriate,” Reid adds.

Examination of the data from the studies didn’t reveal any impacts for people who took vitamin D for an average of two years, apart from a 0.8 percent rise in bone density at the femoral neck. However, the researchers note that such a localized impact is unlikely to be clinically significant.

“In North America and Europe particularly, more than half the adult population have their vitamin D level assessed and take vitamin D supplements,” says Reid. “Some advocates have suggested that the indicator level for needing vitamin D supplements has been quite high.”

“We believe that vitamin D supplements are only indicated for people with very low levels, (such as those who are frail, are confined rest-home residents, or women who are veiled, and some dark skinned people),” he adds. “This review study suggests that the high use of vitamin D supplements by most healthy adults is a waste of money and resources.”

Others with vitamin D deficiencies, like kids without access to a traditional diet, may require vitamin D pills to prevent conditions like rickets that impacts the developing skeleton leading to bowed legs and knock knees.

“Most healthy adults, especially in New Zealand, who live a normal, active life and get out regularly for activities such as walking, shopping and gardening, get vitamin D from the sun, and do not need vitamin D supplements,” says Reid.

“We do know that maintaining good blood vitamin D levels is important for promoting absorption of calcium from the diet,” he concludes. “Very high levels of Vitamin D may have the opposite effect, and take calcium out of the bone and weaken the skeleton. There is a sweet spot in the middle, where not too much and not too little is a good level.”

The study’s findings were described in greater detail in The Lancet.