A deficiency of vitamin D is more common than we think. Sunshine is the most crucial source of this vitamin but most of us are just not getting enough sunlight exposure at the optimal strengths.
Dietary sources of vitamin D such as fatty fish, egg yolks, UV light-exposed mushroom or fortified milk are also not consumed enough. This is why many people resort to meeting their recommended intake of vitamin D from supplements.
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However, a new meta-analysis of 54 trials has found that vitamin D supplementation shows no signs of improving muscle health. Published in the Journal of Bone and Mineral Research, the study assessed data from double-blinded, placebo-controlled, English-language randomized controlled trials.
Researchers were not able to find any benefit of vitamin D supplements on muscle strength or health. In fact, daily dosages of vitamin D greater than 2,800 international units actually reduced muscle performance in certain tests.
Citing limitations of available literature, the authors say that since no studies include people with vitamin D deficiency in isolation, such individuals with low levels of the vitamin may still benefit from taking the supplement.