Studies

Explore research connecting ingredients and health goals.

22 ingredient–goal connections

GoalReported findings
SupportiveMixedNo effectAdverseUnclassified

Bone HealthandVitamin D

202published studies

Supportive

Vitamin D supports calcium absorption and normal bone mineralization, and severe deficiency can cause poorly mineralized bone. The available research indicates that baseline status matters: benefits are more plausible when deficiency is corrected, while trials in generally healthy adults often find no meaningful improvement in bone density or structure from additional supplementation. Even in deficient groups, changes in blood markers do not always translate into measurable bone gains.

Pooled trials support a reduction in fractures from Vitamin D combined with calcium in older adults. This is evidence for the combination, rather than proof that Vitamin D alone provides the same protection. Positive findings in pregnancy, childhood, or after kidney transplantation also concern distinct populations and cannot be generalized to everyone. Active Vitamin D analogues used for osteoporosis are separate medical treatments.

More is not necessarily better. Higher supplementation has failed to outperform standard amounts in vitamin-D-replete people, and high-dose treatment has reduced bone density in otherwise healthy adults. Nutritional adequacy and additional supplementation therefore have different implications for bone health.

202 linked studies · 35 sampled for detail · Sep 27, 2026

Study types

  • Narrative review68
  • Randomized trial56
  • Cross-sectional study24
  • Meta-analysis12
  • Cohort study9
  • Observational study9
  • Guideline / consensus7
  • Case-control study5
  • Non-randomized trial4
  • Systematic review4
  • Single-arm trial2
  • Clinical trial1
  • Other1

Published by year

  • 48Earlier
  • 62010
  • 32011
  • 122012
  • 112013
  • 112014
  • 22015
  • 102016
  • 52017
  • 82018
  • 152019
  • 92020
  • 72021
  • 62022
  • 102023
  • 82024
  • 102025
  • 212026

Findings over time

Numbers above bars show study counts. Earlier groups years before 2010.

202621 studies

  • Supportive9
  • Mixed4
  • No effect7
  • Adverse1
  • Unclassified0

Population over time

Reported participants by publication year. Select a year to see the total and reporting coverage.

— Participant count not reported. Earlier groups years before 2010.

202682,655 reported participants

Counts reported by 17 of 21 studies. 4 without a reported count.

Totals sum reported counts across studies and reviews; participants may overlap between sources.

Explore this goal

Showing 5 top-ranked studies for Vitamin D and Bone Health.

Top studies

Vitamin D · Bone HealthHighest ranked first
  1. Pregnancy vitamin D supplementation and offspring bone mineral density in childhood follow-up of a randomized controlled trial.
    2024Randomized trial454 participants

    The American journal of clinical nutrition

    Finding Compared with placebo, gestational cholecalciferol was associated with higher whole-body-less-head bone mineral content, BMD, BMAD, and lean mass at mid-childhood follow-up.

    SupportiveView source for Pregnancy vitamin D supplementation and offspring bone mineral density in childhood follow-up of a randomized controlled trial. (opens in a new tab)
  2. Vitamin D analogs and bone: preclinical and clinical studies with eldecalcitol.
    2014Narrative review

    BoneKEy reports

    Finding Clinical studies in osteoporotic patients receiving vitamin D supplementation reported stronger BMD increases and reductions in bone-resorption markers with eldecalcitol than alfacalcidol.

    SupportiveView source for Vitamin D analogs and bone: preclinical and clinical studies with eldecalcitol. (opens in a new tab)
  3. Efficacy of vitamin D fortified foods on bone mineral density and serum bone biomarkers: A systematic review and meta-analysis of interventional studies.
    2020Meta-analysis1,786 participants20 studies reviewed

    Critical reviews in food science and nutrition

    Finding Vitamin D-fortified foods significantly increased serum 25(OH)D and BMD and reduced PTH, with substantial heterogeneity for some outcomes.

    SupportiveView source for Efficacy of vitamin D fortified foods on bone mineral density and serum bone biomarkers: A systematic review and meta-analysis of interventional studies. (opens in a new tab)
  4. Cholecalciferol Supplementation Attenuates Bone Loss in Incident Kidney Transplant Recipients: A Prespecified Secondary Endpoint Analysis of a Randomized Controlled Trial.
    2022Randomized trial193 participants

    Journal of bone and mineral research : the official journal of the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research

    Finding Median 25(OH)D increased to 40 ng/mL with cholecalciferol and was substantially unchanged with placebo.

    SupportiveView source for Cholecalciferol Supplementation Attenuates Bone Loss in Incident Kidney Transplant Recipients: A Prespecified Secondary Endpoint Analysis of a Randomized Controlled Trial. (opens in a new tab)
  5. Vitamin D supplementation and bone health in post-menopausal women: a 24-month randomized controlled intervention with enhanced bioavailability formulations.
    2026Randomized trial612 participants

    European journal of clinical nutrition

    Finding Serum 25(OH)D was significantly higher with liposomal vitamin D3 than with conventional cholecalciferol (38.2 versus 28.5 ng/mL; p=0.003).

    SupportiveView source for Vitamin D supplementation and bone health in post-menopausal women: a 24-month randomized controlled intervention with enhanced bioavailability formulations. (opens in a new tab)

Counts reflect published studies in our database, not the strength of a benefit. A study may appear in more than one connection.