Vitamin D is a very popular supplement in nursing homes in Australia - Feb 2025

---

Use of complementary medicines among older adults living in 23 residential aged care facilities in Australia

BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies volume 25, Article number: 64 (2025) 10.1186/s12906-025-04811-3
Narjis Batool, Magdalena Z. Raban, Karla L. Seaman, Johanna I. Westbrook & Nasir Wabe

Background
There is limited information on complementary medicine (CM) use among older adults living in residential aged care facilities (RACFs). This study aimed to determine the prevalence and predictors of CM use and to examine differences in CM use by facility for residents of RACFs.

Methods
We conducted a retrospective study using routinely collected electronic data about permanent residents aged ≥ 65 years in December 2021 from 23 RACFs in Sydney. The prevalence of CM product use was estimated, and modelling was used to determine factors associated with CM use. Funnel plots visualised differences in prevalence of CM use between facilities.

Results
A total of 1,873 residents were included in the analysis with 78.4% (95% CI: 76.5–80.3) using at least one CM product and 41.2% (95% CI: 39-43.4) using 2 or more CMs.
The most frequently used CM products were

• vitamin D (61.4%),
• magnesium (18.0%) and
• calcium (13.1%).

Certain diagnoses were associated with both the likelihood of using a CM as well as the number of CMs used. For example, individuals with fractures were more likely to use ≥ 2 CMs (OR 1.29; 95% CI 1.05–1.58), as were those with an endocrine disorder. Residents with circulatory conditions and dementia were less likely to use ≥ 2 CMs. The prevalence of residents using at least one CMs ranged from 54 to 88% between facilities.

Conclusions
The prevalence of CM use is high in RACFs. Research to investigate the appropriateness of CM use to ensure their safe and effective use in RACFs is needed.
 Download the PDF from VitaminDWiki

---

VitaminDWiki - many studies have found Vitamin D to be very popular

• Vitamin D is the most popular supplement - many studies
• 20X increase in vitamin D sold and 36 percent decrease in osteoporosis business in Australia – Nov 2013
• Increased use of D category listing has 92 items along with related searches
• Vitamin D levels increasing 7 percent per year, bones denser in Japan (probably supplementation) - June 2015
• Vitamin D use increased 3.7 X, Omega-3 increased 9 X (US 1999-2012) – JAMA Oct 2016
• Vitamin D levels increasing 7 percent per year, bones denser in Japan (probably supplementation) - June 2015
• Vitamin D supplementation in Ireland - big increase in people with 20-50 nanograms in 20 years – June 2015
• Vitamin D in US children: those having more than 40 ng increased 60 percent (2001-2010) - Dec 2016
• 26 X increase in Vitamin D prescriptions for youths in England in 8 years – Dec 2019
• Vitamin D is perceived to be the healthiest food ingredient (more than fiber, whole grains, Omega-3, organic, etc) Survey May 2018
• Vitamin D was the most supplemented vitamin or mineral in the US - 2017
• Vitamin D in US children: those having more than 40 ng increased 60 percent (2001-2010) - Dec 2016
• Nursing homes and Vitamin D - many studies