WSLH Trace Elements Clean Lab Contributes to Research Showing Many Older Women Don’t Need Vitamin D Supplements

A clinical trial led by Dr. Karen Hansen, associate professor of medicine at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, has shown Vitamin D supplements may be ineffective in improving bone density or bone strength in postmenopausal women.

Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene (WSLH) Trace Elements Clean Laboratory staff led by Dr. Martin Shafer performed calcium absorption studies using stable isotope testing on urine specimens from the 200+ women enrolled in the study.

080605_hi_res_icp_ms_WEBWSLH staff used Hi-Res ICP-MS technology to quantify concentrations and ratios of calcium isotopes. This is the gold standard dual stable calcium isotope method.

Tests were performed both on baseline urine specimens and then on urine specimens taken after the women in the study groups drank orange juice containing the stable isotope 44Ca and were IV-infused with the stable isotope 42Ca.

The isotopes were used as markers for how much calcium was absorbed into the body and how much was excreted.

Dr. Shafer and the WSLH Trace Elements Clean Lab staff have collaborated with Dr. Hansen on several studies over the past decade and are just completing the research phase of a similar study related to magnesium absorption.

Vitamin D Study results are published in JAMA Internal Medicinehttp://archinte.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=2422066

New York Times story about the Vitamin D study — http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/08/10/older-women-vitamin-d-supplements/