Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 10, 2026
Longitudinal Evaluation of Mouse Hind Limb Bone Loss After Spinal Cord Injury using Novel, in vivo, Methodology
Published on: December 7, 2011
Vitamin D supplementation has no effect on bone mineral density in individuals with chronic spinal cord injury -
Anneke Hertig-Godeschalk1, Joelle L Flueck2, Claudio Perret3,4
1Neuro-Musculoskeletal Functioning and Mobility, Swiss Paraplegic Research, Nottwil, Switzerland. anneke.hertig@paraplegie.ch.
Study Design:
Randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, parallel-group, superiority trial.
Objective:
Sufficient vitamin D levels (serum 25(OH)D > 75 nmol/L) are essential for bone health. The prevalence of insufficient 25(OH)D levels and osteoporosis is high in individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI). This study presents secondary outcomes from the VitD-SCI trial, which evaluated the effect of two D3 supplementation doses over a 12-month period on bone mineral density (BMD) in individuals with chronic SCI.
Setting:
Swiss SCI clinic.
Methods:
Forty-two individuals living with SCI for at least three years (seven females, mean age 48 ± 10 years, 18 ± 13 years since SCI onset) and having insufficient 25(OH)D levels were included. Participants were randomized to receive placebo, medium-dose (24'000 IU once every four weeks), or high-dose (24'000 IU once every two weeks) D3 supplementation for 12 months. At baseline and 12 months, 25(OH)D levels and BMD (measured at the radius, femoral neck, distal femur, and proximal tibia) were assessed.
Results:
Thirty-three percent of participants who received supplementation achieved sufficient 25(OH)D levels. No effect of D3 supplementation on BMD was observed when comparing baseline to 12 months, regardless of the measurement site. None of the investigated parameters, including lesion level or smoking status, modified the effect under examination.
Conclusion:
Twelve months of D3 supplementation showed no effect on BMD in individuals with chronic SCI. This study highlights the complexity of SCI-specific physiological mechanisms that may interfere with the response to D3 supplementation and its impact on bone health in this population.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:25Role of Vitamins in Maintaining Bone Health
Vitamin A
Vitamin A is involved in the process of bone remodeling. Retinoic acid, the active metabolite of Vitamin A, has nuclear receptors in osteoblasts and osteoclasts, which are involved in bone remodeling.
Vitamin B12
Vitamin B12 acts as a cofactor during the formation of osteoblast-related proteins, such as osteocalcin. Vitamin B12 plays a role...
01:29Bone Disorders
Bone deposition is also affected by the levels of sex hormones like estrogen and testosterone that promote osteoblast activity and bone matrix synthesis. When the level of these hormones decreases due to aging, it causes a reduction in bone deposition. As a result, bone resorption by osteoclasts...
01:22Connective Tissue Cell Types
Fat cells (adipocytes), smooth muscle cells (myoblasts), and bone cells (osteoblasts) are some connective tissue cell types. Some immune system cells...
01:23Role of Skin in Vitamin D Synthesis
The solar UV B rays (290-315 nm) are absorbed by the skin, and 7-dehydrocholesterol (provitamin D3) photolyzes it to previtamin D3, which undergoes a rapid transformation to vitamin...
01:31Essential Minerals for Bone Health
Calcium and Phosphorus
Calcium is a critical component of bones, especially in the form of calcium phosphate and calcium carbonate. Since the body cannot make calcium, it must be obtained from the diet. However, calcium cannot be absorbed from the small intestine without...
01:21Skeleton and Calcium Homeostasis