RESEARCH - Falls, fractures linked to high-dose vitamin D

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Falls, Fractures Linked to High-Dose Vitamin D

By , North American Correspondent, MedPage Today

Published: May 11, 2010

Reviewed by Dori F. Zaleznik, MD; Associate Clinical Professor of

Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston and

Dorothy Caputo, MA, RN, BC-ADM, CDE, Nurse Planner Earn CME/CE credit

Older women given a single high dose of vitamin D every year had an

increased rate of falls and fractures, compared with placebo,

researchers said.

Although researchers had expected a benefit for the supplements, those

getting the vitamin had a 15% increase in the risk of falls and a 26%

increase in the risk of falls with a fracture, according to Kerrie

, PhD, of the University of Melbourne in Geelong, Australia,

and colleagues.

Women in the treatment arm of a large randomized double-blind trial

also had an increased risk of fracture for any reason, and

colleagues said in the May 12 issue of the Journal of the American

Medical Association.

The result was surprising, the researchers said, since other studies

had shown a benefit for vitamin D supplements, albeit given at lower

doses and more often.

The rationale for the single dose -- 500,000 International Units given

orally once a year -- was that it would be clinically easy, would

prevent decreases in vitamin D levels in the winter months, and would

eliminate the problem of nonadherence, the researchers said.

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Read the full article here:

http://www.medpagetoday.com/Geriatrics/GeneralGeriatrics/20042

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