Research · PMID 31405892

PubMed sourcedAbstract-based analysis

Reviewed by Neal Rouzier, MD, Preventive Medicine · Sep 2026

Association between vitamin D supplementation and mortality: systematic review and meta-analysis.

BMJ (Clinical research ed.) · August 2019 · Yu Zhang, Fang Fang, Jingjing Tang, Lu Jia, Yuning Feng, et al.

What this study found

Vitamin D supplementation alone was not associated with all cause mortality in adults compared with placebo or no treatment. Vitamin D supplementation reduced the risk of cancer death by 16%.

systematic_review

How RAGMD uses this study

Clinical questions this paper informs

Synthesis lives on the evidence question — this page shows where the study sits in that analysis.

Primary study

Does vitamin D supplementation reduce mortality or major disease?

Meta-analyses show vitamin D supplementation does not significantly reduce all-cause mortality in unselected populations. Targeted repletion may benefit those with documented deficiency.

Open evidence analysis

Supporting literature

Does magnesium supplementation improve metabolic health markers?

Trials in deficient or at-risk individuals show modest improvements in some glycemic and blood pressure markers, but routine supplementation for metabolic disease prevention is not strongly supported in general populations.

Open evidence analysis

Supporting literature

Does DHEA supplementation improve health outcomes in aging adults?

DHEA raises circulating androgens and estrogens modestly but lacks robust outcome trial evidence for cardiovascular, cognitive, or mortality benefit in healthy aging adults without documented deficiency.

Open evidence analysis

Supporting literature

When is growth hormone replacement appropriate in adults?

Growth hormone replacement is evidence-supported for adults with confirmed GH deficiency from pituitary disease, improving body composition and quality of life. Use in healthy aging or performance enhancement lacks safety and efficacy evidence.

Open evidence analysis