An article in the British Medical Journal has accused academics and researchers in international osteoporosis foundations heavily funded by supplement manufacturers of wrongly promoting the use of calcium and vitamin D supplements for treating osteoporosis despite evidence piling up since 2002, that they have no positive effects on osteoporosis in the elderly, and could even be harmful. The article authored by two endocrinologists - Andrew Grey and Mark Bolland from New Zealand's University of Auckland - appeared in the latest issue of the journal. Calcium and vitamin D supplements are big business with global annual sales of calcium supplements in 2013 amounting to $6 billion and sales of vitamin D in the US touching $748 million in 2012.
Annual costs of vitamin D testing in Australia increased from about $800,000 in 2001 to over $71 million in 2010. The main aim of managing…
