Vitamin D and Health

Table 29: RCTS on the effect of vitamin D supplementation on risk of falls in adults ≥ 50y
Reference/Country Population Intervention/Duration Baseline 25(OH)D
concentration (nmol/L)
Results
Authors Conclusions
Bischoff-Ferrari et al
(2016)
Switzerland
Community-dwelling men and women
(n=200) with a low-trauma fall in
previous 12 months.
Age: ≥ 70 y; mean age: 78 y
1. 600 µg vitamin D3 / month
2. 1,500 µg vitamin
D3 / month
3. 600 µg vitamin D3 plus
300 µg 25(OH)D/month
Duration: 12 months
1. 46.7 ± 24.5
2. 52.2 ± 23.0
3. 45.9 ± 19.0
Lower extremity function No
difference in adjusted mean SPPB
function decline score changes
between treatment groups at 12
months (p=0.26)
Incidence of falls: Significantly
increased incidence in group 2
(66.9%; 95% CI, 54.4% - 77.5%)
and group 3 (66.1%; CI, 53.5% -
76.8%) compared with group 1
(control) (47.9%; 95% CI, 35.8% -
60.3%) (p=0.048)
Higher monthly doses of vitamin
D had no benefit on lower
extremity function and were
associated with increased risk of
falls compared with the control
group.
Table 30: Cohort studies on the association between serum 25(OH)D concentration and risk of falls in adults ≥ 50y
Reference/Country Population Description Follow-up Mean baseline 25(OH)D
(nmol/L) (SD)
Results
Comments
Menant et al (2012)
Community dwelling adults
(n=463)
Mean age: 78 ± 4.6 y
1y 62.2 ± 24.6 No difference in 25(OH)D between faller and non-faller
groups (60.7 ±24.3 vs 63.2 ± 24.9 nmol/L; p=0.27)
Serum 25(OH)D concentration < 50 nmol/L:
25(OH)D < 50 nmol/L was a significant
risk factor for falls among men but not
among women.
Men: IRR=1.93 (95% CI, 1.19-3.15; p=0.008)
Women: IRR=0.83 (95% CI, 0.56-1.23; p=0.362)
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