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Vitamin D Supplementation Is Associated with a Reduction in Self-Reported Falls among Older Adults with Previous Fall History — Feasibility Study

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Abstract

Background

Vitamin D insufficiency contributes to muscle weakness and a higher risk of falls in older adults.

Objectives

This study explored the impact of vitamin D supplementation on self-reported falls and physical function in older adults with low vitamin D levels and a recent fall history.

Materials and Methods

Twenty-five older adults ≥ 70 years with two or more falls during the past year, low vitamin D blood levels (≥10 ng/ml and < 30 ng/mL), and slow gait speed (1.2 m/s) participated in a 6-month vitamin D supplementation (800 IU/day) study. A modified version of the Morse Fall Scale questionnaire was used to assess frequency of falls over one-year prior to study enrollment. Functional outcomes (short physical performance battery, handgrip strength, gait Timed Up and Go, and six-minute walk), and vitamin D levels were assessed at baseline and 6-month follow-up.

Results

Based on diaries and pill counts, participants were generally adherent to the intervention (6 of 7 days per week). Supplementation with 800 IU/day of vitamin D for 6 months increased blood vitamin D levels from 23.25±4.8 ng/ml to 29.13±6.9 ng/ml (p<0.001). Self-reported number of falls decreased from an average of 3.76 ± 2.2 falls in one-year to 0.76 ± 1.4 falls (p <0.0001) over the 6-month intervention. No changes in functional outcome measures were observed.

Conclusions

Vitamin D supplementation at the currently recommended dose of 800 IU/day increased blood vitamin D levels and reduced frequency of falls in older adults with low vitamin D levels and a recent fall history.

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Acknowledgments

We would like to thank the participants and the study staff for their efforts in completing this study.

Funding

Funding: This study was supported by 1 P30 AG028740-01.

Author information

Author notes

  1. Both authors contributed equally to this paper.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Aging and Geriatric Research, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA

    Stephen D. Anton, R. T. Mankowski, B. A. Bensadon, E. J. Audino, C. Custodero, J. Hincapie, C. McLaren & C. Leeuwenburgh

  2. Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA

    Stephen D. Anton

  3. Department of Biostatistics, University of Florida, Gainesville, USA

    P. Qiu

  4. Health Informatics Institute, University of South Florida, Tampa, USA

    L. You

  5. Dipartimento Interdisciplinare di Medicina, Clinica Medica Cesare Frugoni, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy

    C. Custodero

  6. Department of Health Education and Behavior, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA

    J. H. Lee

  7. Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Service, North FL/South GA Veterans Health System, Gainesville, USA

    S. P. Ganesh

  8. Department of Occupational Therapy, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA

    S. P. Ganesh

Authors
  1. Stephen D. Anton
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Contributions

Author Contributions: Christiaan Leeuwenburgh, Stephen Anton, conceived and designed the study; Robert Mankowski, Peihua Qiu, and Lu You analyzed the data; Stephen Anton and Robert Mankowski drafted the manuscript; Benjamin Bensadon, Carlo Custodero, Juhan Lee, Christian McLaren, Christiaan Leeuwenburgh and Elizabeth Audino edited the manuscript. Jacobo Hincapie and Shanti Ganesh provided feedback on the manuscript and wrote a clinical perspective section.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Stephen D. Anton.

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Conflicts of Interest: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Anton, S.D., Mankowski, R.T., Qiu, P. et al. Vitamin D Supplementation Is Associated with a Reduction in Self-Reported Falls among Older Adults with Previous Fall History — Feasibility Study. J Frailty Aging 11, 224–230 (2022). https://doi.org/10.14283/jfa.2021.46

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.14283/jfa.2021.46

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