US based trade body the Natural Products Association (NPA) says it was shocked by a recent high-profile review of the effects of vitamin D supplementation.
The NPA says the study’s findings “contradict” a large body of scientific research demonstrating vitamin D’s role in supporting bone mineral density and preventing fractures and falls in elderly adults.
And it argues that the researchers main finding, that there is little evidence to support the use of vitamin D supplementation for bone and muscle health, is “at odds with the (US) Food and Drug Administration’s Significant Scientific Agreement regarding health claims for vitamin D supplements and the guidance from medical organizations around the world”.
We were shocked when this study came out because of its total disregard for the wealth of scientific research and medical guidance in the US and around the world”
Daniel Fabricant, PhD, president and CEO of NPA, said: “We were shocked when this study came out because of its total disregard for the wealth of scientific research and medical guidance in the US and around the world. Vitamin D is critical to supporting bone mineral density and a daily supplement at the advice of a doctor is an excellent way for people to get the right amount.”
The NPA says that public health bodies in the US, Netherlands, Canada and Australia all around advocate vitamin D supplementation.