Meta-analysisindependent cross-checkabstract checked I-SUP-115 standard review

Large intermittent doses of vitamin D and falls

Effects of intermittent or single high-dose vitamin D supplementation on risk of falls and fractures: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Overview

Myung SK et al.. Osteoporos Int 2023 · PMID 37120684 · DOI 10.1007/s00198-023-06761-3

Large doses given monthly or yearly did not prevent falls or fractures and might slightly increase falls.

Does the study support the specific claim? Partly · Methodological quality: moderate

Study explained simply

What did the researchers want to find out?: To check high-dose bolus vitamin D for falls and fractures.
How was the study done?: Meta-analysis of 15 trials.
How many people, animals or samples were studied?: 15 trials.
What was actually found?: No benefit; possible slight increase in falls.
How large was the observed effect?: Falls RR 1.03 (0.98-1.09).
What do the results mean in everyday life?: Avoid huge occasional doses unless prescribed.
What are the study's limitations?: P value and CI inconsistent.
What does it say about Elawady's specific claim?: Partly supports C-SUP-07 (falls), not fractures.
Do the results apply to Germany and Europe?: Applicable.
What can explicitly not be concluded from this study?: Not about daily moderate doses.

Authors: Myung SK et al.
Journal: Osteoporos Int
Year: 2023
Identifier: PMID 37120684 DOI 10.1007/s00198-023-06761-3
Verification: verified – PubMed efetch 2026-10-26; Crossref works API 2026-10-26
Retracted: no
Corrections: none
Extent checked: abstract only
Conflicts of interest and funding: No COI statement in PubMed record

Do intermittent or single high-dose vitamin D supplements affect falls and fractures?

Study design: Meta-analysis – Systematic review and meta-analysis of RCTs
Population: Adults in RCTs
Country: Multinational
Period: Search to 25 May 2022
Sample size: 15 RCTs
Inclusion and exclusion criteria: RCTs of intermittent or single high-dose vitamin D

Results: Falls RR 1.03 (0.98-1.09; I2 56.6%; 11 trials); fractures RR 0.99 (0.87-1.14; I2 48.3%; 11 trials). Fracture reduction in trials with <1000 participants (RR 0.74, 0.57-0.96) but not in larger trials (RR 1.06, 0.92-1.21). Vitamin D3: falls RR 1.06 (0.99-1.15), reported P=0.051.
Absolute risks: not reported in abstract
Authors' conclusion: Intermittent or single high-dose vitamin D had no preventive effect on falls and fractures and might even increase the risk of falls.

Heterogeneity
Reported P=0.051 is inconsistent with the 95% CI 0.99-1.15 (recomputed P about 0.13; stats/C-SUP-07_harms.py)

Borderline falls signal; small-study effects for fracture benefit.

Shows no benefit of high-dose bolus vitamin D and at most a borderline increase in falls; tempers the claim's 'falls and fractures' harm.

A-SUP-20 found a significant increase in one trial.

Applicable.

Mixed: supports avoiding bolus doses; does not confirm a robust harm.

Multidimensional assessment
Multidimensional assessment
Authenticity of the source	verified
Methodological quality	moderate
Risk of bias	some concerns
Precision of results	moderate
Directness	direct
Reproducibility	partly replicated
Consistency with the overall evidence	mixed
Regional transferability	high
Adequacy of the interpretation (by the archive)	not applicable

Mechanism of possible bolus harm.