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Bischoff-Ferrari et al. Higher doses of vitamin D does not reduce fall risk in the elderly
DOI:10.1038/bonekey.2016.41
This study compared the efficacy of a high dose of vitamin D (vit D) compared to a standard dose in 200 elderly people (mean age 78 years) with prior history of a fall.
The participants received either 24000 IU vit D by mouth each month (standard dose) or 60 000 IU vit D or the standard dose of vit D plus 300 μg calcifediol. Lower extremity function was measured in all participants after 6 months and 12 months of treatment using the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) test.
Participants in the two latter groups were significantly more likely to achieve a plasma level of 25-hydroxyvitamin D of at least 30 ng/ml compared to the standard dose group (P=0.001). However, no differences were seen in lower extremity function and the group receiving the highest dose of vit D was found the have the highest incidence of falls during the 12-month follow-up (66.9% cf. 66.1% in the vit D+calcifediol group cf. 47.9% in the group receiving the standard dose of vit D).
Editor’s comment: Administration of a high dose of vit D may achieve optimal plasma levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D but it was actually was associated with an increased risk of falls, reminiscent of the increased risk of fractures observed in a previous study with a mega (500'000 IU) annual dose of Vitamin D. Hence more could be less.
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