The effects of vitamin D supplementation on types of falls
Abstract
BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: To assess whether vitamin D supplementation prevents specific fall subtypes and sequelae (e.g., fracture).
DESIGN: Secondary analyses of STURDY (Study to Understand Fall Reduction and Vitamin D in You)-a response-adaptive, randomized clinical trial.
SETTING: Two community-based research units.
PARTICIPANTS: Six hundred and eighty-eight participants ≥70 years old with elevated fall risk and baseline serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels of 10-29 ng/ml.
INTERVENTION: 200 IU/day (control), 1000 IU/day, 2000 IU/day, or 4000 IU/day of vitamin D3.
MEASUREMENTS: Outcomes included repeat falls and falls that were consequential, were injurious, resulted in emergency care, resulted in fracture, and occurred either indoors or outdoors.
RESULTS: After adjustment for multiple comparisons, the risk of fall-related fracture was greater in the pooled higher doses (≥1000 IU/day) group compared with the control (hazard ratio [HR] = 2.66; 95% confidence interval [CI]:1.18-6.00). Although not statistically significant after multiple comparisons adjustment, time to first outdoor fall appeared to differ between the four dose groups (unadjusted p for overall difference = 0.013; adjusted p = 0.222), with risk of a first-time outdoor fall 39% lower in the 1000 IU/day group (HR = 0.61; 95% CI: 0.38-0.97; unadjusted p = 0.036; adjusted p = 0.222) and 40% lower in the 2000 IU/day group (HR = 0.60; 95%CI 0.38-0.97; p = 0.037; adjusted p = 0.222), each versus control.
CONCLUSION:…
How strong is the evidence?
Evidence Hub reads this as a randomized trial, done in people. Its evidence level is 2 of 5 (High · randomized trial). Randomized trials of a reasonable size are the strongest single-study design.
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