Trial starting for Vitamin D with US soldiers – 2,000 and 5,000 IU for 3 months

Vitamin D Supplementation in Warfighters

Update: Study Results 5,000 IU Vitamin D daily resulted in many benefits after 3 months (US soldiers) – RCT March 2019

This Randomized Controlled Trial has many problems

1. They are not permitting the soldiers to take >400 IU of vitamin D during the trial
   • Many soldiers will probably refuse to take part in the study, as they will not want to decrease their vitamin D intake
2. Three months is barely long enough to restore vitamin D levels
   • It will be difficult to notice benefits which might only start in the last few weeks
3. The study will also look at vitamin D levels 9 months after stopping the vitamin D supplementation
   • Since the half-life of vitamin D is approximately 2 months there will be ZERO effect 9 months later.
   • Note: many doctors still incorrectly feel that once the vitamin D levels are restored that no more is needed

See also VitaminDWiki

• Need for Routine Vitamin D Screening in Military Personnel – Sept 2016

• Military and Vitamin D - many studies

• Vitamin D prescriptions in US Military increased 5X in 5 years – July 2015

• US Army learning about benefits of vitamin D to trauma – Matthews Dec 2013

• Suicide 2X more likely with low vitamin D (in military) – Jan 2013

• Vitamin D might reduce military costs for UC and CD – June 2011

• Military in hot climates and vitamin D deficiency - 2010

• Increased Bone strength during military training – with just 800 IU of vitamin D and Calcium – RCT April 2014

• Stress fractures in basic training associated with 2.5 ng less vitamin D – meta-analysis Nov 2014

• 19 of the reasons that Vitamin D trials fail