Vitamin D3 Supplementation Does Not Improve Fracture Healing: An Exploratory Phase II Randomized Controlled Trial

Description

This presentation by Gerard Slobogean discusses findings from the vita-shock trial, a collaboration between the University of Maryland and McMaster University, which investigated the effects of vitamin D supplementation on fracture healing. Slobogean starts by highlighting the significance of vitamin D deficiency among adult fracture patients and references past research linking deficiency to nonunion rates. The trial aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of various vitamin D dosages to establish an optimal dosing strategy towards improving healing outcomes in a larger definitive trial. The study involved 96 young adult participants undergoing treatment for femur or tibial shaft fractures, receiving different regimens of vitamin D supplementation. Throughout the trial, various comparisons were made, particularly focusing on serum 25(OH)D levels. Ultimately, while higher vitamin D supplementation raised serum levels, the trial did not find significant benefits regarding fracture healing outcomes among the treatment strategies tested. The presentation concludes with a recommendation that while vitamin D may not demonstrate routine benefits in fracture recovery, it still has important roles in managing deficiency and other health aspects.

DOI: 10.1302/3114-220879

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