12/06/2026
‘What supplements do you take?’
It’s one of the questions I’m asked most often. And I completely understand why.
We’re constantly told that the next supplement, powder or pill could be the answer to better health, healthy ageing and longevity.
But one of the most valuable things medicine teaches you isn’t what to prescribe, it's...
👉 How to evaluate evidence
👉 How to look beyond headlines
👉 How to ask whether a claim is actually supported by good-quality research
A new BMJ systematic review and meta-analysis recently analysed 69 randomised controlled trials involving more than 150,000 people. The researchers looked at whether vitamin D, calcium, or both together reduced falls and fractures.
The findings?
Vitamin D alone didn’t reduce falls or fractures. Calcium alone didn’t either. And even when combined, any benefit appeared to be very small.
Now, this doesn’t mean vitamin D is unimportant. It remains essential for preventing and treating deficiency and maintaining bone health in those who need it.
But it does remind us why high-quality evidence matters. Healthcare is full of things that sound like they should work. It’s full of compelling stories, anecdotes and confident claims. The challenge is that biology doesn’t always behave the way we expect.
That’s why well-designed studies are so important. They help us separate what we hope is true from what is actually true.
And perhaps the most consistent finding in health and longevity research is that the fundamentals continue to outperform the quick fixes.
👉 Regular movement
👉 Strength
👉 Balance
👉 Sleep
👉 Good nutrition
👉 Maintaining muscle mass
👉 Social connection
Not particularly glamorous. Not easy to package into a bottle. But repeatedly shown to make a meaningful difference.
So when people ask me what supplements I take, they’re often surprised by the answer.
My supplement cupboard is fairly boring.
My exercise programme gets far more attention. Because if my goal is to remain strong, capable, independent and doing the things I love for as long as possible, that’s where the evidence continues to point.