--- title: "Association between vitamin D supplementation and mortality:…" description: "Vitamin D supplementation did not reduce overall mortality but was associated with a 16% reduction in cancer-related deaths." url: "https://magellanlongevity.com/study/vitd_mortality.md" canonical: "https://magellanlongevity.com/study/vitd_mortality.html" html: "https://magellanlongevity.com/study/vitd_mortality.html" type: "study" study_key: "vitd_mortality" journal: "BMJ" year: 2019 pmid: "31405892" doi: "10.1136/bmj.l4673" citations: 1 updated: 2026-09-02 author: "Gabriel Radu, DO" author_credentials: "Physiatrist (PM&R). NY medical license 275110. NPI 1376861765." publisher: "Magellan Longevity" content_format: "markdown" --- # Association between vitamin D supplementation and mortality: systematic review and meta-analysis [Home](https://magellanlongevity.com/) › [Research map](https://magellanlongevity.com/longevity-research-map.html) › Association between vitamin D supplementation and… **HTML version:** https://magellanlongevity.com/study/vitd_mortality.html · **In the Magellan app:** https://magellanlongevity.com/#/study/vitd_mortality ## Citation | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Journal | BMJ | | Year | 2019 | | PMID | [31405892](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31405892/) | | DOI | [10.1136/bmj.l4673](https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.l4673) | | Study key | vitd_mortality | ## Takeaway Vitamin D supplementation did not reduce overall mortality but was associated with a 16% reduction in cancer-related deaths. ## The question Is vitamin D supplementation associated with lower mortality in adults? ## Hypothesis The study aimed to investigate if vitamin D supplementation is associated with lower mortality. ## Methods This systematic review and meta-analysis included 52 randomized controlled trials with 75,454 participants. The trials compared vitamin D supplementation to placebo or no treatment for mortality outcomes. Data extraction and quality assessment were conducted independently, and meta-analyses used fixed and random effects models to calculate risk ratios for death. ## Results Vitamin D supplementation was not associated with all-cause mortality (risk ratio 0.98), cardiovascular mortality (0.98), or non-cancer, non-cardiovascular mortality (1.05). However, vitamin D supplementation significantly reduced the risk of cancer death (0.84). Subgroup analyses showed all-cause mortality was significantly lower in trials with vitamin D supplementation, but neither vitamin D nor vitamin D alone significantly reduced all-cause mortality. ## Conclusion Vitamin D supplementation alone was not associated with a reduction in all-cause mortality in adults. However, vitamin D supplementation was found to reduce the risk of cancer death by 16%. ## Limitations The abstract does not explicitly state limitations of the study beyond the need for additional large clinical studies. ## Verbatim from the abstract > Vitamin D supplementation was associated with a reduction in cancer mortality but not all-cause or cardiovascular mortality in this meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials. ## Association of Vitamin D Supplementation with Mortality Risk | Measure | Risk Ratio | | --- | --- | | All-cause mortality | 0.98 | | Cardiovascular mortality | 0.98 | | Non-cancer, non-cardiovascular mortality | 1.05 | | Cancer death | 0.84 | *Risk ratios for different mortality outcomes with vitamin D supplementation compared to control.* ## Where this study is used on Magellan This paper is one of the citations behind the evidence grade on the pages below. Grades are assigned from the published research and are independent of affiliate commissions. | Compound or device | Evidence grade | Graded pages | | --- | --- | --- | | Vitamin D3 (Cholecalciferol) | Moderate evidence | [Dr. Mercola Liposomal Vitamin D3](https://magellanlongevity.com/p/10.md) | | Targeted Organ-Support Nutrients | Emerging evidence | [NOVOS Vital Organ Support](https://magellanlongevity.com/p/14.md) | | Smart Body-Composition Analysis | Measurement tool | [Withings Body Scan Scale](https://magellanlongevity.com/p/77.md) | ## Reference 1. **Association between vitamin D supplementation and mortality: systematic review and meta-analysis** BMJ 2019 · [PMID 31405892](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31405892/) · [DOI 10.1136/bmj.l4673](https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.l4673) > Vitamin D supplementation was associated with a reduction in cancer mortality but not all-cause or cardiovascular mortality in this meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials. ## Structured data ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"MedicalWebPage","@id":"https://magellanlongevity.com/study/vitd_mortality.html#page","url":"https://magellanlongevity.com/study/vitd_mortality.html","name":"Association between vitamin D supplementation and mortality: systematic review and meta-analysis","description":"Vitamin D supplementation did not reduce overall mortality but was associated with a 16% reduction in cancer-related deaths.","inLanguage":"en","isPartOf":{"@type":"WebSite","name":"Magellan Longevity","url":"https://magellanlongevity.com/"},"author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Gabriel Radu, DO","jobTitle":"Physiatrist (PM&R)","identifier":[{"@type":"PropertyValue","name":"NPI","value":"1376861765"},{"@type":"PropertyValue","name":"NY medical license","value":"275110"}]},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Magellan Longevity","url":"https://magellanlongevity.com/"},"encoding":{"@type":"MediaObject","encodingFormat":"text/markdown","contentUrl":"https://magellanlongevity.com/study/vitd_mortality.md"},"dateModified":"2026-09-02"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https://magellanlongevity.com/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Research map","item":"https://magellanlongevity.com/longevity-research-map.html"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Association between vitamin D supplementation and…","item":"https://magellanlongevity.com/study/vitd_mortality.html"}]},{"@type":"ScholarlyArticle","@id":"https://magellanlongevity.com/study/vitd_mortality.html#study","name":"Association between vitamin D supplementation and mortality: systematic review and meta-analysis","headline":"Association between vitamin D supplementation and mortality: systematic review and meta-analysis","datePublished":"2019","isPartOf":{"@type":"Periodical","name":"BMJ"},"identifier":"PMID:31405892","url":"https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31405892/","sameAs":"https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.l4673","abstract":"Vitamin D supplementation did not reduce overall mortality but was associated with a 16% reduction in cancer-related deaths."}]} ``` ## Related on Magellan Longevity - [NOVOS Vital Organ Support](https://magellanlongevity.com/p/14.md) — product graded on this and related evidence - [Dr. Mercola Liposomal Vitamin D3](https://magellanlongevity.com/p/10.md) — product graded on this and related evidence - [Withings Body Scan Scale](https://magellanlongevity.com/p/77.md) — product graded on this and related evidence - [Efficacy of vitamin D supplementation on cancer mortality: systematic review and…](https://magellanlongevity.com/study/x6.md) - [Longevity research map](https://magellanlongevity.com/longevity-research-map.html) - [Evidence-based longevity supplements](https://magellanlongevity.com/longevity-supplements.md) ## Scope and disclosures Educational information, not medical advice. Nothing here is intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Talk to your physician before starting any supplement or device, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking medication. Editorial firewall: evidence grades are assigned from the published research and are independent of any affiliate commission. As an Amazon Associate, Magellan Longevity earns from qualifying purchases. Reviewed for accuracy by a board-certified physician (DO).