A higher dose of vitamin d reduces the risk of falls in nursing home residents: a randomized, multiple-dose study.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the effect of four vitamin D supplement doses on falls risk in elderly nursing home residents.


METHODS
Secondary data analysis of a previously conducted randomized clinical trial.


METHODS
Seven hundred twenty-five-bed long-term care facility.


METHODS
One hundred twenty-four nursing home residents (average age 89).


METHODS
Participants were randomly assigned to receive one of four vitamin D supplement doses (200 IU, 400 IU, 600 IU, or 800 IU) or placebo daily for 5 months.


METHODS
Number of fallers and number of falls assessed using facility incident tracking database.


RESULTS
Over the 5-month study period, the proportion of participants with falls was 44% in the placebo group (11/25), 58% (15/26) in the 200 IU group, 60% (15/25) in the 400 IU group, 60% (15/25) in the 600 IU group, and 20% (5/23) in the 800 IU group. Participants in the 800 IU group had a 72% lower adjusted-incidence rate ratio of falls than those taking placebo over the 5 months (rate ratio=0.28; 95% confidence interval=0.11-0.75). No significant differences were observed for the adjusted fall rates compared to placebo in any of the other supplement groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Nursing home residents in the highest vitamin D group (800 IU) had a lower number of fallers and a lower incidence rate of falls over 5 months than those taking lower doses. Adequate vitamin D supplementation in elderly nursing home residents could reduce the number of falls experienced by this high falls risk group.
Broe
Kerry E
KE
Institute for Aging Research, Hebrew SeniorLife, Boston, Massachusetts 02131, USA. broe@hrca.harvard.edu
Chen
Tai C
TC
Weinberg
Janice
J
Bischoff-Ferrari
Heike A
HA
Holick
Michael F
MF
Kiel
Douglas P
DP
D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006707:Homes for the Aged; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D009735:Nursing Homes; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D014815:Vitamins / Q000008:administration & dosage*
D014815:Vitamins; D014807:Vitamin D