Winter vitamin D had no effect on fracture risk in older adults

Vitamin D supplements are widely recommended in the UK during autumn and winter because weak sunlight limits the body’s ability to produce the vitamin, which helps maintain bone health. But a recent study found they made no meaningful difference to fracture risk among older people, prompting fresh questions about who benefits from taking them.

The NHS advises adults to take 10 micrograms daily from October to April, and around one in six UK adults is deficient, rising to one in three in winter. Food provides only a modest share of daily needs; deficiency risk is higher for some groups, including people with darker skin or obesity. Researchers have also linked low vitamin D to infection risk, while claims about preventing cancer or dementia remain part of a wider debate over its benefits.