Critical thinking about three meta-analyses: can vitamin D alone or with calcium prevent fractures?

Ref ID 779
First Author H. Fan
Journal CURRENT MEDICAL RESEARCH AND OPINION
Year Of Publishing 2020
URL https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/03007995.2019.1687432
Keywords • Inference
• Orthopaedic
• Vitamins and supplements
• Non-Cochrane reviews
Problem(s) • Intervention not described / defined
• Ignores setting or context of included studies which limits review applicability
• Incorrect interpretation or statistical inference error from meta-analysis
Number of systematic reviews included 3
Summary of Findings The discussion piece highlights various concerns over the conduct of two of three systematic reviews on vitamin D supplementation on fracture prevention with opposing conclusions published between 2007 to 2018. Concerns include a failure to appropriately define target populations and interventions for included studies and failure to appropriately interpret the conditions under which the conclusions of the review were accurate.
Did the article find that the problem(s) led to qualitative changes in interpretation of the results? N/A
Are the methods of the article described in enough detail to replicate the study? No