Less than half of hip fracture patients take vitamin D supplements

Despite national recommendations for daily vitamin D intake, new research has found that found that just 48% of people report consistently taking vitamin D supplements after a hip fracture, even though it is a known treatment and preventative strategy for osteoporosis.

A team from Canada recently interviewed 573 hip fracture patients (average age 74 years) about their vitamin D intake during doctor visits for two years after hip fracture surgery. They found that:

• 48% consistently took vitamin D supplements as recommended;
• 36% took supplements inconsistently;
• Less than 19% took no supplements.

“Vitamin D supplementation following hip fracture surgery is grossly under-prescribed,” explains Dr Mohit Bhandari, who is involved in the work. “Given its potential to improve patient function independent of other therapies, it seems improved advocacy and education – aimed at doctors and patients – about vitamin D supplementation is both worthwhile and evidence-based.”